We have some incredible artists supporting and championing our work here at Jubacana. Our patrons are not only immensely gifted artists but also believe in the powerful impact that music, dance and creativity can have on shaping young people’s lives.

WHAT IS A PATRON?

A patron is someone who wants to get involved in a project more formally and offer their support and advice, or simply champion a project because it aligns with their beliefs. In projects like ours, we have artists that love Jubacana and want to publicly support or endorse the work we do to share the message of the impact that music and dance can have on young people around the world.

SILVANNY ‘SIVUCA’ RODRIGUEZ

We are so thrilled to have Silvanny ‘Sivuca’ Rodriguez as a patron of Jubacana. Sivuca is a master percussionist, musician and educator. Holly and Sivuca met in 2003 while Sivuca was touring and teaching in Oldham (interestingly at the Museum where Jubacana rehearse today!). They have shared a similar journey: from starting as teenagers in percussion projects, progressing to leading those projects and bands, having a passion for teaching young people music, and eventually forming their own organisations.

Sivuca is from São Paulo, Brazil, and leads an incredible social project called Banda Alana whose ‘aim is to transform the lives of children and adolescents through music’. Sound familiar? In 2013, Holly and Dan visited the project in São Paulo, and in 2018 Banda Alana came to the UK and delivered a workshop here in Oldham with Jubacana!

Sivuca is also a touring artist, playing with many different Brazilian bands and artists.

We are thrilled to have Sivuca champion Jubacana and we look forward to continuing to connect our two projects.

Read more about Sivuca here: http://silvanny.com.br
Banda Alana: https://www.facebook.com/BandaAlana

IRENE KETIKIDI

Holly and Irene met on a tour in 2012 and hit it off instantly; it was probably Irene’s hotel room rendition of ‘Little Wing’ by Jimi Hendrix. Since then Holly and Irene have kept in touch and in October 2019 we flew Irene in from Athens to deliver a guitar masterclass and Q&A as part of our Youth Music programme.

We had an amazing day blasting out beats and guitar riffs with Irene; she was so patient and skilful, and absolutely loved meeting Jubacana and feeling the energy from our inspired young folks. So many of our Jubacanians had their first ever taster of guitar playing with her. She delivered a Q&A about her experience as an artist in the industry, and shared some top tips about guitar playing. She also performed a live demo of her amazing music.

As well as being a world class performer, Irene is an educator and shares guitar licks, tips and tricks online and to young people back home in Athens. We are so excited to have Irene as a Patron.

When it comes to instrumental rock guitar, Irene Ketikidi is a force to be reckoned with. Her solo album “Martial Arts & Magic Tricks” (released 2013) has received excellent reviews all over the world and has been complimented by the likes of Guthrie Govan, Greg Howe, Nita Strauss, Alex Skolnick and David Kilminster. The iconic Young Guitar Magazine has included Irene in the “Heroines of Now” column and she has been featured in numerous webzines like Guitar World, Guitar Interactive and the Sound Guitar Magazine.

Irene is endorsed by Orange amplifiers, Rotosound strings, Klotz cables, Xotic & Tsakalis Audioworks effects and Gruv Gear accessories.

Read more about Irene here: http://www.ireneketikidi.com