All Together Now :: Workshop Facilitators

Jane Lewis

Jane is the founder of the All Together Now workshop series. She had a history of singing in school choirs where she could hide behind the other voices. As for singing solo...no way! She was even too shy to sing in the shower when no one else was home. After she accidentally ended up in band, she made a concerted effort to get over her issues around making noise. She now sings frequently in public, often in the folk duo Gathering Sparks, and she is always looking forward to her next performance. Her second solo recording was released in fall 2014. www.janelewis.ca

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Katherine Wheatley

Katherine is a Guelph singer-songwriter whose music has been used for television documentaries, series and films. She's been a featured vocalist on Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe, as well as a musical guest on TVO's Studio Two, CBC's Vicki Gabereau Show and CTV's Canada AM. In addition to her busy touring schedule, she leads workshops and teaches songwriting, chord theory, and guitar. She is currently at work on her third CD. www.katherinewheatley.com

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Joni NehRita

This singer, songwriter, and musician has been on the Canadian music scene for 14 years. Studying voice at the late Bill Vincent's "Voices & Company" and jazz (vocal major) at Humber College, she has gone on to release two independent albums, "A Fine Time" and "The Bare Truth." She is a staple performer on the Tri-Cities scene, playing at such events and venues as The Jazz Room, Guelph Jazz Festival, Hillside Inside, The Waterloo Jazz Festival, The Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, and The KW Food and Drink Expo. Joni has also toured internationally in the US, Australia, the UK, and Germany. She has recently made a leap into professional theatre, landing the lead roles of Tituba in B-Current's Obeah Opera (Toronto) and Dionne in The Grand Theatre's Hair (London, ON). Joni has been teaching voice for 11 years. She also teaches piano, theory, and introduction to jazz. Students enjoy Joni's easy approach and the humor that she brings to her teaching while being a stickler for attention to technique and detail.
www.joninehrita.com

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PAST WORKSHOP LEADERS

Sam Turton

Sam Turton has been playing slide guitar, singing, performing, and recording for over 40 years. A musician and therapist/mentor, Sam found his voice through deep emotional exploration, and dedicates himself to bringing people together in song. His passion for local living and community-shared music can be heard in his latest in-house-live CD "AT HOME," a roots-blues-gospel gumbo packed with slide guitar, emotive lyrics, and the deep grooves and soul-fired harmonies of his big band of Guelph friends. www.samturton.com

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Adam Bowman

Canadian drummer/percussionist Adam Bowman has been a mainstay in both the Canadian and international music scene for over a decade. Adam has toured and recorded with such well known and respected artists as Kellylee Evans, Ember Swift, Dawn Langstroth, Joni NehRita, Melissa Ferrick, Carlos Morgan, Chris Rouse, Eccodek and VINX to name a few. As a touring artist, Adam has traveled across Canada, the US, UK, and Australia; and as a session musician, he has played on dozens of recordings. From Funk to Jazz, Hip Hop to Folk music, Adam's big beats and deep feel are unmistakable and he has become the drummer of choice for songwriters, producers and music directors alike. www.adambowman.com

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Eve Goldberg

Eve sings music that draws honey from the rock of life. A compelling writer and interpreter, Eve's watercolour voice and solid guitar style has made her a favourite with audiences across Canada and the US. Her performances are intimate and relaxed, with her trademark mixture of folk, blues, country, bluegrass, old time, and jazz. She has released three CDs to widespread acclaim. Eve is also an enthusiastic teacher who has the ability to present musical information in a clear and un-intimidating manner. She knows how to create a supportive environment that encourages students at any skill level to learn and grow. www.evegoldberg.com

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Catriona Sturton

Catriona Sturton has been playing the harmonica for 21 years and got her start as a teenager in Ottawa, studying from Larry "The Bird" Mootham. She has given workshops for libraries, folk festivals and universities across Canada. Catriona has studied harmonica in New Orleans, Mississippi, Indiana and Port Hope.

www.catrionasturton.com

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Dennis Gaumond

Dennis Gaumond is a longtime musician who has toured and performed in many contexts and released several CDs. He has also released the book 'Why Is Life?', the book/CD 'Chant Magic', and the CD, 'Attracting Abundance - Mantras for Prosperity'. He is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Sound Practitioners, and he has presented workshops across Canada, teaching seminars on the topics in his book and leading 'sound healing' events. Dennis is a teacher of the science of mantra and the ancient art of overtone singing, a practice that maximizes the healing potential of the human voice. He leads sound healing circles, using chants from a variety of world traditions, shamanic drumming, crystal bowls, etc. He is also the founder and leader of the 'Bhadra Collective', a group of musicians who present chant-based world-beat dance music celebrating the 'Return of the Goddess'. He now resides in Canada and Costa Rica. www.whyislife.com

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Stephen Fearing

Multiple Juno Award winning Stephen Fearing is one of Canada's foremost performing singer-songwriters. Mixing powerful lyrics, creative arrangements and brilliant guitar playing, Fearing has built up a loyal and dedicated audience with a wide range of songs - from his 1988 release Out to Sea to his newest, hot-off-the-presses, CD Between Hurricanes (his 8th). In addition to his solo career, he is a founding member of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings and also performs in a duo with Andy White. Over the course of his celebrated career he has collaborated with many artists, including Shawn Colvin, Richard Thompson, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Wilson, Colin Linden, Margo Timmins and Suzie Vinnick. www.stephenfearing.com

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Teresa Doyle

Teresa has been performing and teaching for three decades. She has ten recordings and has given voice workshops across Canada, in Colorado, Mexico and Ireland. Her approach combines her life long search for the boundaries of the human voice. She's studied with many teachers, most notable, voice facilitation with England's Chloe Goodchild and is currently enrolled in a three year study of The Yoga of Sound with South Indian Russill Paul. www.teresadoyle.com

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Tannis Slimmon

Tannis has been singing, songwriting, recording, and touring for over 25 years. In addition to her two solo CDs (Oak Lake and Lucky Blue), Tannis has appeared on numerous albums, contributing songs and/or singing harmony (a huge passion). She was 2008's Canadian Folk Music Awards Contemporary Vocalist of the Year.

"A breathtaking vocalist with a bright, angelic disposition, Slimmon is a favourite folk attraction whose harmonies are as warm as her smile." Exclaim Magazine www.tannis.ca

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Jude Vadala

Jude grew up in a family of musicians. She learned about music when her parents and aunts and uncles got together for family music circles, a regular activity borne out of a time when people made their own music as a form of entertainment. She has toured across Canada and the U.S. with the critically acclaimed group The Bird Sisters, where she honed her skills as a songwriter and recording artist. Presently she is performing as a solo artist, and she teaches piano, voice and songwriting. www.myspace.com/judeland

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Gwen Swick

Gwen Swick is the complete package: gifted songwriter, arranger and vocalist. Her songs span cabaret, folk, country, art pop, gospel, nonsense, torch and retro Tin Pan Alley. The Globe and Mail says "Swick's songs are pure delight." Gwen is a rare bird - a poet with an exceptional melodic sense and what the Toronto Star calls a "mesmerizing voice." She studied music and graduated from York University to begin a performance career that includes solo work and many collaborations, both live and in the studio. Her songs have been featured in Canadian and American films, and she writes vocal arrangements for choirs. The creator of three acclaimed solo records, Gwen is also a member of Quartette and the Marigolds. www.gwenswick.com

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Suzie Vinnick

Suzie Vinnick is a four-time winner of the Canadian Maple Blues Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. (She has also won for Bassist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year with Rick Fines in 2006.) The owner of a gorgeous, powerful voice, she performs with a sweet mixture of engaging candidness and unparalleled musicianship. She was nominated for a 2009 JUNO for her 3rd album, Happy Here, and for two 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Along with her busy touring schedule (as a solo act or with Rick Fines, the Marigolds, and Betty & the Bobs), she teaches classes and workshops across the country. www.suzievinnick.com

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Jason LaPrade

As a recording engineer, producer, live sound technician, and owner of Crystal Clear Sound, Jason LaPrade has earned the respect of artists from all over North America for his amazing talent in capturing the essence of acoustic performances, and helping artists' work to truly shine. He provides live sound for many of Toronto's premiere acoustic music venues such as Hugh's Room, Trinity St. Paul's, Acoustic Harvest and The Flying Cloud Folk Club, as well as for numerous artists on a freelance basis. Jason is also a sought-after session musician, and his uniquely clear, expressive style on dobro, guitar, and lapsteel has won admiration and praise from the "old guard" of Canadian folk music, as well as from many dynamic, up-and-coming artists. www.crystalclearsound.ca

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Norman Liota

After having graduated from York University's music department and having taught high school, Norman abandoned the straight and narrow for the more adventurous life of an itinerant musician. Originally trained as a classical guitarist, but cutting his teeth on virtually every idiom, Norman's nimble fingers cover an expanse of open tunings, cascading harmonics, and stunning techniques such as prepared guitar. Acclaimed as "a real virtuoso" (ECHO Magazine), "Liota's skills as a composer and vocalist are as formidable as his guitar virtuosity" (Chilliwack Progress Weekend, BC). www.normanliota.com

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Ken Whiteley

Ken has been called a "roots music master." With dynamic energy and a spirit of inclusion, Ken has led gospel singing concerts for people from all walks of life, right across North America. He has been honoured with a Genie Award for Best Original Song in a Canadian Motion Picture, Blues Album of the Year Award, Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Children's Album, 7 Juno nominations, 2 Songs from The Heart Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. Ken's songs have been covered by numerous artists and his recording studio walls are adorned with a dozen gold and platinum records. His recordings are noted for his award-winning original material, heartfelt vocals and instrumental virtuosity. www.kenwhiteley.com

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Alyssa Wright

Alyssa Wright is a cellist and singer-songwriter who, in part because of her improvisatory skills, is in demand as a studio and session musician. Having grown up in a musical family, improvisation and "jamming" were akin to breathing for her, but she developed a system for teaching improvisation after some of her conservatory-trained colleagues and students expressed both interest and bewilderment. She currently teaches privately (cello and voice) in Orillia, and gives workshops and masterclasses throughout Ontario. Her improvisation skills can be heard on countless Canadian jazz, folk, pop, world-beat, new age and rock albums, as well as her own debut solo CD, "Dark Waters" and duo The Brights release, "Live Love Dream."
www.alyssawright.com

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Vince Maccarone

Vince Maccarone is an experiential educator, performer, and studio musician with over 25 years of live playing experience on both drum set and hand percussion. He has studied Jazz, African, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian rhythms extensively and is well versed in all styles of music. JUNO awards, "Drummer of the Year" nominations, and a WC Handy Award are some of the honors Vince has received over the years, and his work can be heard on many television shows and commercials. Vince has laid down the groove for a long list of great musicians, including Colin Linden, Jim Belushi, Paul Reddick, and blues legend Buddy Guy. Passionate about percussion, his teaching always leaves participants with a greater appreciation and a new interest in music, drumming and communication.

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