join James and friends

Join master teacher James Hill for four days and four nights of ukulele bliss at the Ukulele Hideaway in Sicily! Ortigia is a small, mostly pedestrian, beautiful island - and the historic heart of Siracusa. Imagine meandering through the narrow streets, swimming in the calm waters, sleeping above ancient Jewish baths, visiting archaeological sites, and getting to play your ukulele for hours. This the perfect place to allow your imagination to soar and your musicianship to expand.

It's a rare opportunity to study with James Hill, one of the world's most sought-after ukulele performers and teachers, in an immersive, intimate, multi-day international setting. Registration is limited to 25 students to ensure the highest-quality learning experience.

The Ukulele Hideaway is built around James' participatory and engaging teaching style. You'll dive into favorite topics like solo ukulele (the art of playing all the parts at the same time), chord twins, orchestral ukulele, jazz ukulele, creative arranging as well as fresh new topics like poly-chords and the healing properties of the ukulele. All levels of experience are welcome. In addition to your classes with James there will be time for jamming with other students, playing chamber music in the nightly Uke Parlour and practicing new arrangements. What's more, we’ll look for a relaxed setting, where if you want, you can perform with James.

The Ukulele Hideaway: Sicily brings those who love ukulele together to play music, meet new friends, enjoy good food and drink, and just have a GREAT TIME!

Don’t miss out. Claim your spot soon. This retreat doubles as a unique Italian vacation making it ideal for friends and family - two and a half thousand years of history entreats all who visit!

Join the Waitlist

meet YOUR INSTRUCTORs

james hill

James Hill has made a career as an award-winning musician who "gives the ukulele its dignity back without ever taking himself too seriously" (Songlines). A 'third-generation' Canadian ukulele player, James grew up in the town of Langley, British Columbia where he was a student of Jamie Thomas and Peter Luongo, themselves former proteges of ukulele visionary J. Chalmers Doane.

After a decade spent honing his skills as a member of the Langley Ukulele Ensemble, James continued his study of music at the University of British Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in 2003. Hill's early recordings established him as one of the world’s top composers for the ukulele (Rafe Mair, 600AM Vancouver) and a rare peer of Hawaii's premier ukulelists (John Berger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin) while his later albums have stamped him as a singer-songwriter and all-round musician of the highest calibre (Rhythms Magazine).

In the mid-2000s, James collaborated with J. Chalmers Doane, the trail-blazing teacher who first pioneered the use of ukuleles in Canadian schools, to create the acclaimed Ukulele in the Classroom method book series. In 2010, James and his father Barry, a retired school teacher, launched the JHUI Teacher Certification Program, the only course of its kind in the world. With Ukulele in the Classroom established as the gold standard for classroom ukulele pedagogy, James set his sights on creating a new resource that would focus on teaching the art and science of solo ukulele (i.e. playing melody, harmony and rhythm simultaneously on one instrument). The Ukulele Way, with its rich blend of print, audio, video and social media technology, was launched in 2014.

A singer, songwriter, educator and virtuoso instrumentalist, James Hill is a man on a musical mission. It's a mission that reaches beyond the concert stage and into communities, homes and classrooms around the world. After all, when the applause fades and the stage goes dark you can still hear the sound of ukuleles strumming happily into the night...

Guest musicians and instructors

Anne janelle

Anne Janelle is a classically trained Canadian musician who has focused on the cello. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia studying classical music and the cello. Janelle has also earned a master's degree in cello performance from the University of Ottawa.

Janelle has performed with pop artists such as Kanye West, Bruce Cockburn, and Holly Cole. She has also flourished in contemporary music, experimenting deeply with free improvisation in both music and dance. Her cello is often heard backing up other artists, as on the William Hawkins tribute album Dancing Alone: Songs of William Hawkins.

Since 2006 Janelle has been collaborating and touring with James Hill. She plays a wide variety of songs, everything from folk, jazz, bluegrass and avant-garde. She pushes the boundaries of cello music by combining it with her voice and the music of James Hill.

PEPPINO D’AGOSTINO

Peppino D'Agostino, a native of Italy, has been hailed as “a guitarist's guitarist” and recognized as “One of the 50 Transcendent Acoustic Guitarists” by Guitar Player Magazine. Even his Peppino D'Agostino Seagull Signature Guitar model has won accolades as one of the 10 best signature guitars.

He has performed in more than 35 countries, made 18 audio recordings, been featured at prestigious international music festivals, and played with prominent artists from around the world - including Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke, Martin Taylor, Roland Dyens, David Tanenbaum, and many more.

Peppino gives guitar workshops, master classes, and seminars worldwide. Top leading publishers and online music instruction leaders such as Truefire, Guitar by Masters, Hal Leonard, Alfred Publishing, and Acoustic Guitar Magazine Books have all published his compositions and instructional methods. He will be helping the beginner uke players and sharing his love of music throughout this retreat.

vocal coach and violinist, Annabelle Marie

Annabelle Marie is a composer, arranger, vocalist and musician. She studied with the late Judy Davis, legendary vocal coach whose students included Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Mary Martin, Grace Slick, and Eddie Money. Annabelle focuses on unlocking the voice and techniques to repair strained pipes. Ms Marie teaches people how to breathe properly, enunciate, and strengthen their vocal cords in order to project freely. She has devised many vocal exercises so that singers find their authentic voice, control their sound, and sing with confidence. 

 She's toured as a vocalist and violinist with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks in Europe, Japan, and the Americas, and is the executive director and founder of a world renowned multi-cultural children's choir, VOENA, that has been training young performers for 25 years. The choir has been repeated guests of the White House, sang at the Vatican in Rome, wowed members of the World Expo in Japan, was invited to perform opening day of the 2012 London Olympics, and most recently sang at the Interfaith Alliance Conference in Abu Dhabi. She regularly teaches vocal workshops and has been inspiring people of all ages for years which led her to present at a TEDx event in Napa Valley and to be a recipient of the Jefferson Award for extraordinary public service. She embodies the joy that comes from singing and using one’s voice for good.

pricing and plans

*early-bird price ($USD) ends january 31st and includes all taxes. You can pay 50% of the fee upon registration with the remaining balance due 30 days later. Contact us if you need a 3-payment plan.

THE LOCATION

Ortigia is the ancient, historic center of Siracusa, in the South-East region of Sicily. It is a small, UNESCO island joined to the mainland by two small pedestrian and car bridges. This jewel, is a year-round Italian destination and often called the ‘White Pearl of Syracuse.’ The charm of Ortigia is also due to its mix of styles: there are Ancient Greek ruins interspersed near dazzling Baroque piazzas that wind through a labyrinth of Medieval passageways where there are visible remnants of Moorish, Roman, Byzantine, and ancient Judaic civilizations.

Duomo Piazza at Night

Ortigia and Siracusa

Fresh Sicilian delicacies Daily

This is What Participants tell us…

Studying with James Hill has been life changing for many students. Here’s what a few had to say about their experience…

"James is a master teacher and kept me engaged the whole time." - Caroline K.

"I was somewhat intimidated in advance but I found the sessions empowering and enjoyable. Although I have lots of practicing to do, I know I can succeed!" - Collen N.

"James' skills as a player of the ukulele are a marvel, to be sure, and his teaching talents are well-honed. But he also has a particularly gifted way of inspiring students to focus and do their best." - Blair L.

"James walks his talk. A great teacher who does a fine job of including all interests and skill levels." - Anrahyah A.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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If you have any trouble with this form, just email Donna Wapner at: dwapnermusic [AT] gmail [DOT] com

Learn From The Best

MUSIC WORLD RETREATS are hosted by Peppino D’Agostino and Donna Wapner. Our goal is to partner with some of our favorite musicians and creative friends - and together develop intimate, supportive, learning experiences. We pick locations that will encourage and inspire one’s creativity. When participants walk away having learned something new, had fun, made new friends, and can’t wait to join us again - we know we have done our job well!!