Meet the band
Martha Baartz - Tenor Saxophone 1
Martha Baartz (saxophonist/composer) has performed extensively Nationally and Internationally including Glastonbury Festival (UK), The Edinburgh Festival, The Melbourne Festival, and The Brisbane International Jazz Festival and has a Master in music performance (award of Academic Excellence 2010) from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.
Martha is well known for her compositions performed in “The Baartz Freeman sextet”, “Baartzy’s Brew” “The Denson Baartz Quartet” and “Parrott Baartz Project”. She has recorded four successful albums of original music and her compositions are often played on Radio National, Jazz Track. Martha currently teaches saxophone at Southern Cross University (SCU) and Lindisfarne Grammar School.
She has performed with Australian greats; Dan Sultan, Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss (Motown show), Ray Beadle, Clayton Doley, Lachy Doley, Sandy Evans, Bob Sedergreen (2008 Don Banks award winner) Andrea Keller (Aria winner) and Michelle Nicole (Wangaratta Jazz vocal award winner), and international superstars “The Funk Brothers”, “The Temptations” and “Martha and the Vandala’s”. She is a 1st call session and freelance artist having recorded with Australian premier R&B/Soul band “The Teskey Brothers” and Nicki Parrott for Japanese jazz label, “Venus Records” amongst others.
“World class performance” (Waldek Sibinski, Australian Jazz Museum)
“A creative, innovative sound…hooks the listener.4/5” (Chris Copas, The Star)
"From hard-driving funk to evocative ballad, from blues to Latin to tango ... fastidious and edgy but playful and fun too ... full of emotion ... “
(Leon Gettler, The Age 'Green Guide')
Ange Santamaria - Trombone 1
Ange Santamaria is a Trombonist and Educator based in Brisbane, Australia. She studied both Classical and Jazz Trombone and graduated from the QLD Conservatorium of Music in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music. She has been performing professionally since 2003.
Throughout her career as a freelance Trombonist she has worked with a variety of musical acts in many styles including Jazz, Big Band, Salsa, Reggae and Contemporary Music, which has seen her perform in Taiwan, New Zealand, France and throughout Australia.
In her hometown of Brisbane, she has performed with several local and touring shows including the 2022 production of Singin in the Rain at QPAC, the Beatles Live Show (Revolver/Rubber Soul tribute) at QPAC, the Life of Marvin Gaye at Brisbane Powerhouse, the Lord Mayors Seniors Cabaret Gala at City Hall (since 2016), Carnivale at Movie World and Sea World, All Star Alumni Big Band at the QLD Conservatorium, Skyfall: The Music of Bond as a part of the Brisbane Festival and Cloudland The Musical. She has also performed as both a regular and as a guest with a number of local and touring bands including Holy Holy, the Resin Dogs, Afro Dizzi Act, Mistah Savona, Enthusiastic Musicians Orchestra (EMO), Chukale and Bullhorn.
Helen Russell - Bass
Helen Russell is a bassist, vocalist, arranger, musical director and educator based in Brisbane, Australia. Her career has encompassed many styles of music performance - music theatre (often as musical director), country, gospel, pop, classical - whilst always having jazz at its core. Helen has been a constant on the Brisbane jazz scene since the late 80s, performing with both the old guard and the-up-and-comers. Helen has taught in jazz programs at the Queensland Conservatorium, QCU, JMI, and is currently a full-time lecturer in Contemporary Music at USQ. In 2016 she completed a Master of Music Research at Griffith University, documenting and codifying her method of integrating and internalising music theory in an a cappella setting.
Kayleigh Pincott - Vocals
Kayleigh Pincott is an award-winning jazz vocalist, composer and educator with two albums of original music to her name. Kayleigh’s debut jazz release, Solace, features original compositions and arrangements and was a finalist in two categories at the 2018 Australian Jazz Bell Awards. In 2019, Kayleigh’s duo project, Downend , released their debut album, Find A Home, exploring ambient songwriting with hints of rock and folk. More recently, Kayleigh's practice has explored the relationship between jazz and singer-songwriter form and style. With a greater focus on the role of ‘space’ in the construction of harmony, melody and lyric, Kayleigh has sought to develop soundscapes which emphasise simplicity and clarity.
Cassie Whitehead - Director / Alto Saxophone 1
Cassie Stella Whitehead, Quandamooka Ngugi descendant from Mulgumpin (Moreton Island QLD), is a saxophone specialist, arts marketer, multi-instrumentalist performer and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Master of Business (Marketing) from University of Queensland, has also studied at New York University and has won the Magnetic Island Jazz Festival Award.
She is the founder/director of the Unladylike Big Band – a 17-piece all female jazz orchestra celebrating women in music. Aside from being a sought after saxophonist within the Brisbane jazz scene, she has regularly toured internationally and nationally, and recorded with a range of artists as a session musician and horn arranger in many genres. Her songwriting, recording and horn arrangement credits include many chart topping singles and albums with her reggae band Paua, including charting in the Top 100 in New Zealand.
Cassie has performed at festivals around the world including Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK), One Love Festival (NZ/biggest reggae festival in the Southern Hemisphere), Promiseland Festival, East Coast Vibes Festival (NZ), Good Love Festival (NZ and AU), Brisbane International Jazz Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, and has played with 1814 (NZ), Corrella (NZ), Tomorrow People (NZ), Pub Choir ft. members of Ball Park Music, Life On Earth, Bullhorn, Chukale, and toured on behalf of the QLD Arts Council.
Cassie directs the Talkin Jazz Big Band at the Brisbane Jazz Club, is a saxophone tutor at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), directs the instrumental music program and bands at St Ignatius School Toowong. She also coordinates marketing and publicity for the Brisbane International Jazz Festival and the Queensland Clarinet and Saxophone Society. She is the manager, saxophonist, co-songwriter of reggae/soul outfit Paua. During her time in the band from 2010, they have become a household name in New Zealand and very well known within the international reggae community.
Peta Leigh Wilson - Piano
With a Masters of Music Degree, Peta Wilson has worked as a session musician for local acts and recording engineers throughout Brisbane for the past 20 years.
Peta has toured on behalf of the QLD Arts Council, performed her original music at Herand Jazz Club (Norway), and played at a number of music festivals, including Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Woodford Folk Festival, Splendour in the Grass, the Brisbane International Jazz Festival, Melbourne Jazz Festival and many more. Peta has acted as Musical Director on various shows at the QLD Cabaret and Comedy Festivals, notably with Carol Lloyd and Jenny Wynter. She featured as an accompanist for 'Pub Choir' and performed in the ‘Women in Voice’ band. Peta has released two albums with her current recording project Coco Hue which collaborates with various well known local vocalists. She has also featured in support acts for Dion Warwick, Vince Jones and Hiatus Kaiyote.
Sharon Elaine - Trumpet
Sharon Elaine is a trumpet player born and raised in Sydney who discovered her love for music at a young age. She started her journey at six years old and was introduced to jazz when she was 10 through school big band. After graduating high school she immediately moved to Brisbane to study at the Jazz Music Institute where she grew her skills in performance and learnt a deeper and richer understanding of jazz and music as a whole.
Sharon performs with multiple music groups in Brisbane including TYDE, Rosa Mack, The Scornful Four, Brisbane Big Band, UQ Big Band, JMI Big Band, Unladylike Big Band and many other small projects.
Bec Olek - Baritone Saxophone
Bec Olek is a Brisbane based saxophonist and educator. As a baritone saxophone specialist, Bec has a passion for big band and arranging, and has performed in ensembles led by Dave Panichi, Judy Bailey, Andrew Robertson and more. She received a grant with South Coast Big Band in 2020 to arrange and record a version of ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, and is an orchestrator for large scale arena shows. Bec has performed extensively in musical theatre and enjoys doubling on all woodwind instruments.
In 2019 Bec completed her BMus (Jazz Performance) at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she studied with Col Loughnan and David Theak. Her performance experience ranges from folk groups to straight ahead jazz, and modern ensembles to New Orleans brass band. Bec now teaches privately on Brisbane’s northside and directs two ensembles at Glasshouse Christian College in Beerwah.
Grace King - Drums
Grace King is a drummer, song writer and educator based in Meanjin/ Brisbane, Australia. Her playing and creating is heavily charged towards the empowerment and visibility of women in the music industry, especially women drummers. Having graduated from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University with First Class Honours, Grace has gone on to work in various styles of music, with jazz/ funk/ RnB being at the centre of her influence. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage alongside prolific Australian artists such as Sydney pianist Charli Chan, Australia born trio Sheppard, as well as the Choir Boy’s own Mark Gable. When Grace isn’t gigging around Brisbane, touring Australia, or playing onboard cruise ships, she teaches drums/ percussion at two SEQ schools and her own private studio. In 2024, Grace released her debut originals album, Love Disclaimer, of which she sang, drummed, and co-produced on.
Shelley Bishop - Tenor Saxophone
Shelley Bishop is an established multi-instrumentalist and producer, having worked at the legendary Chicago Recording Company alongside acts such as Kayne West, Chance The Rapper, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and Mavis Staples, and had the opportunity to work on GRAMMY Award winning releases. She is an established composer, voice over artist, presenter and producer, with experience in radio, television, broadcast and recorded music within Australia and the United States.
Shelley was appointed to the role of Studio & Operations Manager of Studios 301 in Sydney, the largest recording and production facility in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest independent studio construction in the world. She has spent many years working in the live touring sector both in the United States for the Paradigm Talent Agency and more recently as an assistant agent at the Mushroom Group in Australia.
Shelley holds a Master of Science in Leadership for the Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University (Chicago), a Bachelor of Music Business from Elmhurst University (Chicago) and an Associate Diploma of Music from Trinity College London. She has lectured at some of the world’s leading educational institutions on leadership and management in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, China, Jamaica, South America, and the United States of America. Shelley is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, where she is researching Generational Management Systems in the Creative Workplace.
Mika Atkinson - Alto Saxophone
Since the age of 9, Mika has been passionate for tooting the saxophone. Despite being classically trained, she stepped into the jazz world at the Queensland Conservatorium performing as lead alto in 3 big bands. Since graduating her BMus in Jazz Saxophone, she has performed at QPAC with The Sunshine Club, at the Melbourne Saxophone Festival and has toured interstate with a variety of groups. Mika loves performing at festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Bluesfest Byron Bay, Yonder Festival, Your Mates, Winterfest and more. She has inspired many little ones as part of a classical saxophone quartet which toured regionally across 15 schools. Her original bands are also a huge passion in which she regularly gigs across Sunny Coast/GC/Brisneyland which are TYDE (folk/prog/jazz), partAgave (heavy rock/pop/prog) and Sunny Coast Rude Boys (Skaskaska).
Zoe Atkinson - Bass Trombone
Zoe Atkinson is a trombonist, sousaphone player, composer and arranger from Brisbane QLD. Having graduated from JMI in 2022, Zoe went on to study under New York's Steven Feifke in his "Lead Sheet to Large Ensemble" program. Zoe also worked with Melbourne based composer/arranger Vanessa Perica during her time as bass trombonist in the Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2022. Zoe has a love for big band, swing and traditional jazz and performs regularly around Brisbane in these styles.
Megan Harmston - Trumpet
Megan Harmston is a Brisbane-based brass musician, educator and conductor. She studied tenor horn and brass pedagogy at the QLD Conservatorium of Music, graduating with First Class Honours. She is a passionate educator and has been teaching at Marist College Ashgrove since 2013 where she is Music Curriculum Coordinator and Coordinator of Bands. Her role at Marist has allowed her to develop many young brass musicians through her instrumental teaching and through conducting college Wind Orchestras and Big Bands.
Throughout her career, Megan has performed and conducted regularly in a variety of contexts on trumpet, tenor horn and French horn. Currently, she plays trumpet in afro-funk band The Francis Wolves. She has also been a member of Brisbane Brass Music Association since her teenage years and continues to champion community music-making in Brisbane.
Alyssa Sinclair - Trumpet
Alyssa Iti Merekara Sinclair is a versatile and talented trumpet player, in her last year of study at JMI - Jazz Music Institute. With a core foundation in jazz, especially big band, Alyssa's musical explorations have led her to fall in love with and perform a range of other styles, including funk, fusion, reggae, and prog rock/jazz. Alyssa draws inspiration and is crafting her sound through the influences of legendary artists such as Chet Baker, Anthony Hervey, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Mingus Big Band.
Alyssa has performed extensively including Woodford Folk Festival, where she performed five shows with fem led TYDE band during the 2024/2025 season, and had the pleasure of sitting in with Shmone and Claudio Rabe for a collaborative final show. Currently, Alyssa is actively recording and performing with several collaborative projects, including TYDE band, Silk n Oak, Maevas Journal, JMI Big Band, and the Unladylike Big Band. Each project allows her to showcase the different personalities to her playing, while continuing to grow, learn and push the boundaries of her musical expression.
Moniqua Lowth - Trombone
Moniqua Lowth completed her Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Trombone Performance in 2016 at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University. As part of her degree she gained an internship with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She is a sought after performer and educator - teaching trombone, euphonium, tuba, trumpet and French horn. At the end of 2021, Moniqua graduated her Masters of Teaching (Secondary) with Distinction, majoring in Classroom Music and minoring in Instrumental Music.
Angela Prescott - Trombone
Angela Prescott comes from a classical music background and applies her passion and skillset to a range of musical outlets, including orchestra, musical theatre, jazz, chamber and brass bands. She graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) in 2019 and currently performs regularly and teaches instrumental and classroom music throughout Brisbane.
Megan Barber - Trumpet
Megan is a Brisbane based trumpet player currently completing her Classical Trumpet studies at the Queensland Conservatorium. As a member of QYO and Brisbane Brass, she is very passionate about exploring the different facets and genres of her instrument. As a teacher on the Northside, Megan is also keen on instrumental teaching and hopes to continue teaching as she progresses in her performance career.
Other local legends you should check out:
Kellee Green - Piano
Paula Girvan - Piano
Katie Randall - Drums
Dana Day - Trombone
Diana Tolmie - Saxophone
Georgia Sweetnam - Saxophone
Johanna Ide - Saxophone
Laurinda Davidson - Saxophone
Justine Silk - Trombone
Liv Marlton - Saxophone
Jayde Ellingsen - Bass
Shelley Robin - Bass
Sophie Min - Piano
Bobbie Murphy - Trumpet
Jamie Ashe - Trumpet
Chloe Forbes - Saxophone
Please contact us if you would like to support Brisbane women in music by booking any of these wonderful musicians and we will gladly put you in touch!