Jessie Vintila
Jessie Vintila comes from a long line of musicians and music teachers, and grew up performing with her mother and grandfather in the folk festival scene of Western Australia. She studied voice at Perth Modern music school, where she was trained in classical and the invaluable Hungarian Kodaly hand sign method. Jessie went on to study jazz at the WA Conservatorium of Music. At 18 she started performing her own music and also began to direct her first choir, in a role which was to become her life's passion.
During her late 20s and early 30s Jessie pursued her performing career, moved to the very creative Northern New South Wales region, and completed a Certificate 4 in Music Business and a Certificate 4 in Small Business Management, as well teaching music privately, in schools, and to groups of seniors and people with disabilities. In 2009, along with brilliant co-writer Emma Royle, she started The Lucky Wonders, an original indi folk band, who over 4 years of self-managed national touring and two acclaimed studio albums, touched thousands of people with their honest, insightful songwriting, great melodies and Jessie’s captivating humour and warmth on stage.
Jessie now directs the 4 branches of Raise the Roof Choir, a thriving, singing community in Northern NSW, as well as regular singing workshops across Australia and New Zealand. Jessie’s talent and skill lies in balancing the joy of singing, improvising and setting your voice free, with a commitment to musical excellence and a great feel for rhythm. With a growing collection of wonderful Spanish and Galician songs in her repertoire, Jessie has a passion for creating her own exciting and uplifting gospel, soul and bluegrass choral arrangements.
During her late 20s and early 30s Jessie pursued her performing career, moved to the very creative Northern New South Wales region, and completed a Certificate 4 in Music Business and a Certificate 4 in Small Business Management, as well teaching music privately, in schools, and to groups of seniors and people with disabilities. In 2009, along with brilliant co-writer Emma Royle, she started The Lucky Wonders, an original indi folk band, who over 4 years of self-managed national touring and two acclaimed studio albums, touched thousands of people with their honest, insightful songwriting, great melodies and Jessie’s captivating humour and warmth on stage.
Jessie now directs the 4 branches of Raise the Roof Choir, a thriving, singing community in Northern NSW, as well as regular singing workshops across Australia and New Zealand. Jessie’s talent and skill lies in balancing the joy of singing, improvising and setting your voice free, with a commitment to musical excellence and a great feel for rhythm. With a growing collection of wonderful Spanish and Galician songs in her repertoire, Jessie has a passion for creating her own exciting and uplifting gospel, soul and bluegrass choral arrangements.
"With her sunny disposition, her approachability and her love for song and teaching, Jessie creates a wonderful sound and cohesiveness in her choirs and workshops. She is musically diligent, vocally gifted and a very clear and encouraging director - and fun to work with."
TONY BACKHOUSE
TONY BACKHOUSE
Emma Royle
Emma Royle, Sing the Camino’s Tour Manager, brings a wealth of experience and skills to the trip.
A very seasoned adventurer, she has walked and cycled many remote and lengthy treks all over Australia, and in Nepal, Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as the Camino. She is excellent with navigation, walking advice for weary travellers, itinerary planning, culinary knowledge, organisation and all manner of handy-person skills gained through years of working as a qualified carpenter. Emma has trained in fine arts, small business management and first aid. Emma has a talent and passion for fine food, and has also run her own restaurant, Love & Spoon, in Northern NSW.
Emma is an accomplished musician and songwriter, achieving international recognition and radio airplay across Australia with her songs, and has toured widely playing music with The Lucky Wonders.
A very seasoned adventurer, she has walked and cycled many remote and lengthy treks all over Australia, and in Nepal, Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as the Camino. She is excellent with navigation, walking advice for weary travellers, itinerary planning, culinary knowledge, organisation and all manner of handy-person skills gained through years of working as a qualified carpenter. Emma has trained in fine arts, small business management and first aid. Emma has a talent and passion for fine food, and has also run her own restaurant, Love & Spoon, in Northern NSW.
Emma is an accomplished musician and songwriter, achieving international recognition and radio airplay across Australia with her songs, and has toured widely playing music with The Lucky Wonders.
Catherine Knight
Catherine Knight grew up in a small town of New York and started to develop a passion for the Spanish language in her mid-teens. At the age of 19 and in her second year of university, she decided to immerse herself completely and spend one year studying abroad in Madrid and Barcelona. That year didn’t seem to be enough, so she continued her studies in Madrid. Catherine was quickly drawn to the Spanish lifestyle, whether it was the slow pace, the fresh, home-cooked meals, or the lively squares and terraces in the evening, and she found a welcoming world she wanted to call home. After completing her degree in Hispanic Studies, she spent several years working in different jobs in Madrid, including running her own café, while continuing to travel throughout Spain and the rest of the world.
In 2008, Catherine began working as a tour guide and since then has guided adventure tours varying from backpacking to cycling to kayaking as well as educational tours all over Spain and throughout 4 continents.
In her free time and in addition to doing many several-day stints of backpacking and biking, she completed 2 long cycling journeys across the United States and around the North and South Islands of New Zealand. When not traveling or guiding, Catherine shares her time between Madrid and a small city outside Barcelona.
In 2008, Catherine began working as a tour guide and since then has guided adventure tours varying from backpacking to cycling to kayaking as well as educational tours all over Spain and throughout 4 continents.
In her free time and in addition to doing many several-day stints of backpacking and biking, she completed 2 long cycling journeys across the United States and around the North and South Islands of New Zealand. When not traveling or guiding, Catherine shares her time between Madrid and a small city outside Barcelona.