WHAT GRC GUELPH IS ABOUT
In partnership with the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition and Kazoo! Fest, Girls Rock Camp Guelph offers local youth who self-identify as female, trans, and gender nonconforming aged 8 – 14 a safe, supportive, and fun space to learn from experienced musicians, work towards a shared goal with a group of their peers, experiment musically, develop confidence, and play in a rock band for the first time! Girls Rock Camp believes that introducing a Girls Rock Camp to Guelph will impact the next generation of Guelph’s creative community in a way that addresses the gender disparity in our thriving, but predominantly male, rock music scene.
This year, Girls Rock Camp Guelph is self-funded without the use of outside granting bodies.
Girls Rock Camp Guelph was established by Steph Yates and Alanna Gurr and is co-operated alongside Emmalia Bortolon-Vettor, Sara Bortolon-Vettor, and Emma Howarth-Withers.
OUR TEAM
Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor
Band coach and ADMINISTRATor
Sarafina is a Guelph based musician and artist. She is a songwriter, singer, and drummer in the darkened shoegaze/post-punk drone band, Bonnie Trash with her twin sister, Emmalia. Bonnie Trash has performed at many music festivals across Canada. She enjoys directing and producing music videos and holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership where she focussed on how creativity empowers women.
Alanna Gurr
co-founder, Administrator, fundraising
Alanna grew up in Guelph and has been playing music since she was a kid. She plays guitar and sings in Alanna Gurr & The Greatest State, Brave Moon, Milk & Honey and a variety of other bands over the years.
Image courtesy of Scope Overseer Photogenics
Emmalia Bortolon-Vettor
Coordinator, administrator, Guitar instructor
Emmalia is a multi-disciplinary researcher and musician. They compose and play guitar for Bonnie Trash alongside their sister, Sarafina.
Emma has been studying guitar for close to twenty years, working as a tutor and private music teacher with an emphasis on creativity rather than mastery.
Emma is currently obtaining a Masters degree in Critical Studies in Improvisation.
Liv Cazzola
Band coach
Liv is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, educator, and earth advocate from Guelph, Ontario. Whether it be performing and recording with her bands Tragedy Ann or The Lifers, teaching private music lessons, or sitting on the Music Declares Emergency Board of Directors, bringing out the best in others brings out the best in Liv. Through these musical projects Liv has been privileged to tour across Canada and internationally. Her song "Thomas' Lullaby" garnered her a Folk Music Ontario Songs from the Heart award in the Children's Category. Her band The Lifers were Canadian Folk Music Award nominees in the Emerging Artist category, 2018. Liv's vocal, organ, saw, ukulele and synth arrangements were featured in the two-time Canadian Folk Music Award-nominated album Salt (Moonfruits), 2024.
Marcela Echeverri
Bass Teacher
Marcela is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in music, installation art, anthropology, and improvisation. She completed her latest degree in the new graduate program of Critical Studies in Improvisation at University of Guelph. Marcela currently plays bass with Guelph based salsa band Son de la Guayra and is involved in free music improvisation projects.
Carly Hunt
Design and Social Media Coordinator
Carly, a Guelph-based creative, passionately captures moments through captivating photography. Her unique perspective has earned recognition, featuring works at renowned venues like the Drake Hotel and The Berlin Feminist Film Week.
Jenny Early
Website Coordinator
Jenny is an expert in all things marketing communications. She is passionate about helping small organizations and charities tell compelling stories, reach key audiences and make a real, tangible impact.
