LAURA LOCKE

Laura Locke has worked in tourism and the media, and has  been a course leader and senior lecturer in Events and Tourism Management at the University of Suffolk for over 20 years. She now works part-time and enjoys being a radio presenter for Felixstowe Radio.

 

Ever passionate about women’s issues and the arts, she worked with her students of event management to create women’s events at the University.  On taking a break from full time work, she decided to run women’s networking events in Felixstowe – Cocktails and Conversations. From that sprung the idea of an International Women’s Day Celebration of women in art and music. LAura is a presenter for Felixstowe Radio and works for Menta as a Community Coo-ordinator at @inc Felixstowe 

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 Laura is excited that WAMfest no 4 is coming up in October 2023 and is thinking about 2024!

SHELINE GLEDHILL

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Sheline joins the WAMfest crew for their second year to help look after the website and social media.

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She has been a journalist for most of her career and spent 12 happy years at the East Anglian Daily Times where she edited their monthly business magazine.

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More recently she worked at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Felixstowe BID and Visit Felixstowe.

KATE WHITE

 

Kate has been part of the Wamfest team since 2022 and loves getting involved with these fabulous initiatives that enhance our town, especially loving live music and performance.

 

Kate set up The Greenhouse Cafe in 2018, helped start Edible Felixstowe, a local iniative to grow local food in 2024, and has been involved in the logistics and planning of local events and festivals for several years.

CHANDRA GROVER

Chandra Grover, a Suffolk-based musician, teaches clarinet and piano from her home studio in Trimley. She is musical director for  female vocal group Felixstowe Harmonies and clarinet choir Java Junction, and also sings with Stellar Acapella and plays clarinet in Essentially Swing.  Chandra also writes and arranges songs, which are available on SheetMusicPlus. 

 

 In her workshops, Chandra loves working with groups to develop their understanding of key musical elements and score reading. The sessions focus on body percussion, movement, and learning harmony songs. 

 

 After performing with her choir Felixstowe Harmonies at WAMfest, Chandra was inspired by the organizing team's passion and vitality. This led her to eagerly get involved in supporting the wonderful, unique festival that celebrates and showcases the wealth of talent in the local area.

MIKAELA RACKHAM

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Mikaela is a local photographic artist who has recently launched her own business, Illuminate, at Brightwell Barns in Suffolk. 

 

After 8 years in teaching and 10 years running a photography business part time, Mikaela has followed her dream to create a space for all to learn, develop and experiment with their creative mediums. 

Mikaela developed the WAM website and hosts the exhibitions at 142 Gallery in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, she also snaps away as our photographer and helps to organise the artists as part of the WAM events.

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To find out more about Mikaela: https://www.illuminatestudio.co.uk

RUTH DUGDALL

 

Ruth Dugdall is a Felixstowe-based writer and she’s been a WAMfest woman from the start! 

Her award-winning books are mostly set in Suffolk, and she’s proud as punch to be part of the organising team. She loves the idea of supporting other women on their creative journeys, and has been busy bringing both debut and more established authors to town. She’s also keen to show just how wonderful Felixstowe is, by bringing in participants and spectators, who haven’t visited before. 

CATALINA CARVAJAL

Colombian illustrator and visual artist based in Suffolk, England.

Catalina works in digital and mixed media and enjoys drawing objects, plants, landscapes, animals and anthropomorphic figures. 
 

Catalina has painted our wonderful murals opposite The Orwell Hotel and has produced all of our marketing material! She is an ultimate WAM Women! 

To find out more about Catalina: www.catalinacarvajal.co.uk