Huge thanks to Paul Jonson from Sing 'n Uke in New Zealand for bringing his festival Down Under at Club Berowra and inviting us (Slightly Plucked Up) to be a part of the line up with Duplicity Live (Sue Kidd & Brendan Canty), John Wallace, Sam Reich and The Ukumamas. It was uketastic fun. We loved being a part of the fun and frivolities with such a fabulous ukulele community.

The Making Music 4 Life team lead a fabulous Uke-A-Holics Anonymous GREAT BIG Uke Jam on 27 July 2024 at the Bayview Golf Club. Thanks to all the fabulous ukesters who joined us for an afternoon of musical joy! You totally rock! Well done you! Copyright (c) Making Music 4 Life (2024) www.makingmusic4life.com.au

What an absolute privilege to host Cynthia Lin, the YouTube Uke Queen of the World, for her FIRST performance in Sydney EVER! With a star struck Slightly Plucked Up kicking off the event, it’s true to say that everyone involved had SOOO much fun making music together in the magnificent heritage listed Independent Theatre in North Sydney. True fact: the Independent Theatre was actually the first opera house built in Sydney before the current one at Bennelong Point existed. How good is that! We DID get to perform at the Opera House after all ha ha! Cynthia is such a gentle and humble performer who carries a warmth and presence that envelops listeners like a gentle embrace... and she lead us all on a mesmerising magical journey of delicious dulcet tones from her signature uke and a vocal range full of velvety smoothness and goosebump moments. 🎶💖👏 The crew at Making Music 4 Life is so grateful for the experience and we would like to offer a massive "THANK YOU" to Cynthia for all the musical magic, inspiration and wonderful resources you have given the ukulele community! It's truly incredible and we appreciate it so much 🤩 We would also like to thank the joyful community of adoring and enthusiastic ukulele players who travelled from near and far (including Parkes, Brisbane, New Zealand, Toronto and New York!) to attend the event. We love how much you sang your hearts out in the uke jam and for being so respectfully present during the performances. Imagine if EVERY uke jam was always so energetic and dynamic and full of fun in a fabulous theatre like that! You totally rocked and we would LOVE to do it all again. 🥳 We would also like to give a shout out to Theo and all the staff at the Independent Theatre, and Mall Music for providing some great gear on the day.

Slightly Plucked Up Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival The Carrington Hotel Dining Room 10 February 2024 From left Jenny Massingham Owen Hurley Anne Keogh Janet Raine Janine Shearer (Musical Director)

The Lightly Strung Orchestra is a ukulele ensemble brought to you by Making Music 4 Life! This recording is from our performance at the Carrington Marquee Stage, Katoomba on Saturday 10 February 2024. Songs performed: Norwegian Wood (c) 1965 John Lennon/Paul McCartney - vocals by Owen Hurley & Anne Keogh Better Together (c) 2005 Jack Johnson - vocals by Stephanie Cook Daydream Believer (c) 1967 John Stewart - vocals by Janet France What a Wonderful World (c) 1967 Bob Theile & George Weiss - vocals by Mary Thomas Count on Me (C) 2010 Bruno Mars - vocals by Jenny Massingham Sweet Caroline (c) 1969 Neil Diamond - vocals by David Rath Minnie the Moocher (C) 1931 Cab Calloway - vocals by Greg Davis All arrangements (C) 2024 by Janine Shearer

"Together" was an initiative led by Natasha Cupitt, Musical Director of Free Your Voice Studies and leader of the Iluka Hummingsong Choir. Joined by ukulele players from our Lightly Strung Orchestra, the event was HUGE and gave us all an opportunity to celebrate community music making in a post-Covid lockdown world. Sincere thanks to Natasha Cuppitt and her team for inviting us to be a part of your fabulous concert! Truly grateful 🙏🎶🎉❤️ and a MIGHTY effort from everyone!

Making Music 4 Life presents the Lightly Strung Orchestra's fabulously fun intergenerational Christmas concert at the War Vets for Grandfriends and Little Diggers Preschoolers! 6 Dec 2023

The Northern Beaches Orchestra live in concert at St Luke’s Grammar School with Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity from The Planets Suite for Orchestra, op. 32: IV by Gustav Holst

Ukulele players from our Lightly Strung Orchestra opened the community music concert at St Lukes Grammar School before musicians of the Northern Beaches Orchestra & Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra took to the stage. What a tremendous performance people! 🎉👏 Our riff squad sounded totally awesome! 🥳Our lead vocalists were fabulous! 🎤 And even though we were only 20 strong from our usual cohort of 60, our ukesters did such a tremendous job playing their hearts out ❤️🎶 Well done to those playing in their first gig with us! 🥰 Special thanks again to Marty Hardy on trombone for helping make our rendition of Minnie the Moocher kick butt 😎🚬 and to Steve Buchanan for playing bass with us at the 11th hour. 🎸🎶 Truly grateful to both of you for your incredible talents and for letting us share our uke joy with the wonderful musical community you have created 🥰🎉👏 Thank you everyone for all your hard work! We sincerely appreciate it 💪🎶❤️😎 uke on! Janine xo

The Lightly Strung Orchestra in concert with the combined Northern Beaches Orchestra & Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra. St Luke’s Grammar School. Saturday 18 Nov 2033 Better Together performed by the LSO Words & Music by Jack Johnson (2011) Arrangement for ukulele ensemble by Janine Shearer (2023) Vocalist Stephanie Cook

The Lightly Strung Orchestra in concert with the combined Northern Beaches Orchestra & Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra. St Luke’s Grammar School. Saturday 18 Nov 2033 Wonderful World performed by the LSO Words & Music by George David Weiss & Bob Thiele (1967) Arrangement for ukulele ensemble by Janine Shearer (2023) Vocalist Jenny Massingham

The Lightly Strung Orchestra in concert with the combined Northern Beaches Orchestra & Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra. St Luke’s Grammar School. Saturday 18 Nov 2033 Minnie the Moocher performed by the LSO Words & Music by Cab Calloway (1931) Arrangement for ukulele ensemble by Janine Shearer (2023) Vocalist Greg Davis

The Lightly Strung Orchestra in concert with the combined Northern Beaches Orchestra & Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra. St Luke’s Grammar School. Saturday 18 Nov 2033 Sweet Caroline performed by the LSO Words & Music by Neil Diamond (1969) Arrangement for ukulele ensemble by Janine Shearer (2023) Vocalist David Rath

The Lightly Strung Orchestra in concert with the combined Northern Beaches Orchestra & Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra. St Luke’s Grammar School. Saturday 18 Nov 2033 Daydream Believer performed by the LSO Words & Music by John Stewart (1967) Arrangement for ukulele ensemble by Janine Shearer (2023) Vocalist Janet France

About 1/4 of the regular crew from the Lightly Strung Orchestra (LSO) with the magnificent singers from the Iluka Choir practising for our upcoming performance at the Opera House of the Northern Beaches (aka Glen St Theatre). Well done gang! That was fun! Choir Conductor: Natasha Cupitt LSO Musical Director: Janine Shearer

Making Music 4 Life's Uke-A-Holics Anonymous GREAT BIG Uke Jam on 26 August 2023 at the Mona Vale Bowling Club was full of unbridled enthusiasm, positive energy and feel good vibes! Thanks to all the fabulous ukesters who joined us for our wee ukulele gathering! You are A - M - A - Z - I - N - G!!! Copyright (c) Making Music 4 Life (2023) www.makingmusic4life.com.au

How delightful is it when you’re surrounded by like minded ukesters in a fun and friendly environment making music to add life to your life!!!! It’s uketastic that’s what it is!!!! Our Uke-A-Holics Anonymous Uke Jam on 29 July 2023 at the Mona Vale Bowling Club was AWESOME fun! Tickets for our next even on 26 August 2023 are available here: https://events.humanitix.com/uke-a-holics-anonymous-august-sing-and-strum-social Copyright (c) Making Music 4 Life (2023) www.makingmusic4life.com.au

The Lightly Strung Orchestra ukulele ensemble was founded in 2013 by Janine Shearer on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Our motley crew of joyful ukesters meet weekly to play, sing and improve our ukulele techniques through regular participation in structured, multi-part musical arrangements. This photo compilation was prepared to celebrate our 10th birthday of making music together! I am truly privileged to lead such a wonderful group of people and so grateful that you chose Making Music 4 Life to be a part of your journey! It's been such a pleasure to make music with you all! Thank you so much! Created by Janine Shearer (2023) Original photos (c) Making Music 4 Life (2023)

Making Music 4 Life presents The Thin White Ukes Combined Ukulele Workshop/Concert 13 February 2023 Narrabeen Tramshed Arts & Community Centre Participants were absolutely blown away by the sublime musicality and wonder of the phenomenon that is The Thin White Ukes! Their Rebel Rebel workshop introduced us to Bowie of for all levels of proficiency and their concert weaved their mastery, passion and love of David Bowie music in spell-binding fashion!

The Thin White Ukes present their ready to rock David Bowie workshop/concert Monday 13 February 2023 Tramshed Arts & Community Centre Hosted by The Lightly Strung Orchestra & Making Music 4 Life For more ukulele courses, workshops & events visit www.makingmusic4life.com for details.

The Lightly Strung Orchestra performance at the Carrington Marquee Stage, Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival, 11 February, 2023 Musical Director: Janine Shearer For more information visit: www.makingmusic4life.com/lso

Making Music 4 Life presents a Combined Ukulele Workshop/Concert by Green Fieldz (Sally Carter & Keith Rea) (VIC) 12 September 2022 Tramshed Community & Arts Centre, Narrabeen Back for round 2, the dynamic Celtic duo "Green Fieldz" (Sally Carter and Keith Rea) did not disappoint second time around! Incredible dexterity with duelling ukuleles, a blazing fiddle, wild guitar work and stunning melodies and soaring harmonies. THANK YOU SALLY & KEITH! That was AWESOME!

Making Music 4 Life presents a Combined Ukulele Workshop/Concert by Green Fieldz (Sally Carter & Keith Rea) (VIC) - 12 September 2022  Green Fieldz is the dynamic Celtic duo of Sally Carter and Keith Rea, famous for creating a storm of high end energy by intertwining dual ukuleles, blazing fiddle, wild guitar work and stunning melodies and soaring harmonies. We were totally gobsmacked by their incredible virtuosity on uke and fiddle, beautiful vocal harmonies and wonderful performances. THANK YOU SALLY & KEITH!

Making Music 4 Life presents Paul Jonson (NZ) Workshop - Wednesday, 11 May 2022, Seaforth Paul Jonson loves to demonstrate blues elements and fingerpicking techniques and his "Strum, Pick & Pinch" Workshop and performance gave us plenty to think about and work on. THANK YOU PAUL!

Making Music 4 Life presents Paul Jonson (NZ) - Workshop & Concert 5 February 2020 The Beach Club, Collaroy Had LOADS of fun with Paul Jonson and his blues elements muscle memory workshop dabbling in a bit of folk blues, boogie, ragtime and traditional folk songs on his resonator ukuleles. Members of the LSO had a fantastic blues jam with Paul whilst Neil Buckley, our blues harmonica teacher, showed us how to riff like a pro! Thanks Paul & Neil!

Making Music 4 Life presents the Ukulele Death Squad - all the way from South Australia! Combined Workshop & Concert Saturday 16 November 2019 RSL Anzac Village, Narrabeen The Ukulele Death Squad, one of the hottest uke acts in Australia, gave a smashing workshop and concert to ukesters from the Northern Beaches and beyond. With stage-craft, mad thumping rhythms and outrageous solos, the squad quite literally blew our minds. THANK YOU DEATH SQUAD!

Blues Harp (Harmonica) Workshop Part 2 - Saturday 26 October 2019, RSL Anzac Village, Narrabeen Neil Buckley helped participants continue their blues harp journey with Part 2 of the program to gain proficiency with the skills acquired in Part 1. The progress was remarkable after a few hours on the instrument! Fabulous result :)

Making Music 4 Life presents the Blues Harp (Harmonica) Workshop Part 1 Saturday 19 October 2019 RSL Anzac Village, Narrabeen Neil Buckley helped all our keen and enthusiatic uke players and friends learn to play 10 hole blues harp harmonica "in C" in a truly fun and engaging workshop. Awesome fun!

Making Music 4 Life presents the Blues Harp (Harmonica) Workshop Part 1 Saturday 31 August 2019 RSL Anzac Village, Narrabeen A first for ukulele players from the Northern Beaches! Neil Buckley gave us a fabulous Beginner Workshop on the 10 hole blues harp harmonica "in C". Amazing fun!

We were extremely privileged to host UK based classical ukulele maestro Samantha Muir (performer, teacher, arranger and composer) who ventured Down Under in August and thrilled audiences with her beautiful finger style ukulele workshops and concerts. Samantha is currently doing a PhD at the University of Surrey. She is a cohort member of the Consortium for Guitar Research, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. We were absolutely blown away by Sam's knowledge and mastery and many have been inspired to go home and practise for 4 hours a day...! Thank you Sam your playing is absolutely scrumptious!

Making Music 4 Life presents The Wild Women of Anywhere Beach Workshop/Concert Tuesday, 9 April 2019 RSL Anzac Village, Narrabeen As a duo, Cathy Welsford and Angie Smith have performed together for 30 years, singing their way through numerous political upheavals, cultural revolutions and just plain standing up against injustice! We were delighted to host their sassy workshop and concert which included spine tingling moments of musical magic!

Making Music 4 Life presents the Peter Moss Ukulele Workshop/Concert Manly Vale Community Centre Friday 2 May 2028 Peter Moss, the ukulele and banjolele extraordinaire from the UK, returned to Australia to perform and tour around the country. We hosted one of his orchestrated ukulele workshops, followed by a concert in his frenetic and unique style!

Members of the Lightly Strung Orchestra joined in a 90 strong ukulele ensemble formed by players across Sydney and beyond. Ukesters from as far as the Blue Mountains, The Central Coast and down to the Sutherland Shire had a rip roaring time at this combined ensemble gig. Fantastic stuff gang!