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2026 PERFORMERS + GUESTS
Walter Martella, Fest co-director
Conductor and Music Director of the qathet Academy of Music and Arts, Artistic Director of the International Choral Kathaumixw, and co-director of the qathet Accordion Fest, Walter is an accomplished pianist, accordionist, and trumpeter. He earned a Diploma in Jazz Trumpet from Malaspina College (VIU) and a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Victoria. He also completed the Jazz Intensive Studies program at the Banff School of Fine Arts, and the British Columbia Choral Federation's conducting program.
Walter leads the choral program at the Academy of Music. He conducts the Academy Chamber Choir, Chor Musica Men's Choir, the Academy children and youth choirs, and the Powell River Chorus. He also maintains a full private teaching schedule and regularly leads choral workshops.
Walter is a strong believer in the power of music as an important part of community, and has been an adjudicator for instrumental and choral festivals throughout British Columbia. He has recorded seven studio albums, performed provincially with many well-known musicians in multiple genres, and continues to be in demand all along the West Coast as a trumpet soloist, accordionist, and jazz pianist.
Walter leads the choral program at the Academy of Music. He conducts the Academy Chamber Choir, Chor Musica Men's Choir, the Academy children and youth choirs, and the Powell River Chorus. He also maintains a full private teaching schedule and regularly leads choral workshops.
Walter is a strong believer in the power of music as an important part of community, and has been an adjudicator for instrumental and choral festivals throughout British Columbia. He has recorded seven studio albums, performed provincially with many well-known musicians in multiple genres, and continues to be in demand all along the West Coast as a trumpet soloist, accordionist, and jazz pianist.
Karina Inkster, Fest co-director
Karina Inkster is a fitness and nutrition coach, author of 5 books, TEDx speaker, and host of the No-B.S. Vegan podcast. Founder of K.I. Health & Fitness, she and her online coaching team work with vegan clients all over the world. Karina holds a Master's degree in Gerontology, specializing in health and aging.
What does all this have to do with music? Well, nothing. When she's not working (or working out), Karina attempts to make time for her musical pursuits. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 5, has been playing Australian didgeridoo for over 2 decades, and picked up the accordion in 2013. She's been studying accordion with Walter Martella since 2018 and teaching accordion and didgeridoo at the qathet Academy of Music and Arts since 2023. She and Walter released an album with their tango band in 2025.
What does all this have to do with music? Well, nothing. When she's not working (or working out), Karina attempts to make time for her musical pursuits. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 5, has been playing Australian didgeridoo for over 2 decades, and picked up the accordion in 2013. She's been studying accordion with Walter Martella since 2018 and teaching accordion and didgeridoo at the qathet Academy of Music and Arts since 2023. She and Walter released an album with their tango band in 2025.
Anthony Schulz
Now based in Vancouver, Australian accordionist Anthony Schulz has devoted his life to the art of music, exploring and showcasing the versatility and refinement of the piano accordion. Anthony has graced the stage with numerous highly acclaimed ensembles and projects, from Luciano Pavarotti to ECM's Barre Phillips, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and ARIA award-winning Zulya and the Children of the Underground. His musical vision spans various genres, including chamber music, original compositions, world music ensembles, and improvisation. Anthony held a key role as the Chair of Victoria's iconic multicultural music organization The Boite, and is currently President of the Accordion Society of Australia.
Ronen Segall
Ronen is an accomplished accordionist based on Vancouver Island, where he lives with his wife and two children. For over 20 years, he has been teaching the accordion online, helping students worldwide deepen their understanding of this expressive instrument, well beyond simply reading notes on a page. In addition to his work as an educator, Ronen has recorded and performed with numerous bands, showcasing his versatility and passion for music across a variety of styles.
Faye Bendrups
Faye Bendrups is a writer, composer and performance-maker. Her compositions have been commissioned by major Australian companies, including Melbourne Theatre Company, Queensland Theatre Company and Malthouse Theatre. She wrote the opera Sindromtango: una ópera grotesca, the music theatre works Perpetual Tango and Shades of Tango, and the song cycles Cancionero Neruda and Cancionero América Latina. In 2022 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the performing arts. Her play The Fabulous Life of Lina Prokofiev premiered in the New York United Solo Festival in 2024, winning ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Musician’ awards.
Guillermo Anad
Guillermo Anad is a composer, arranger and writer from Buenos Aires. He has worked as an orchestral musician (violist) in Argentina, Paris and Berlin and his compositions have been performed and recorded in Europe and the Americas. Anad is a specialist in the life and music of Astor Piazzolla and has published widely on Piazzolla and other tango-related themes. He has completed over 100 arrangements of Piazzolla’s compositions for various ensembles in Argentina, Spain, Belgium and Australia. Anad studied with Szymsia Bajour (founding member of Astor Piazzolla's quintet) and performed in Argentina with the Antonio Agri Ensemble, the Mariano Mores Tango Orchestra, bandoneonists Leopoldo Federico and Edelmiro “Toto” D’Amario, violinst Fernando Suárez Paz; and in Paris with the Cuarteto Cedrón and Gustavo Beytelmann.
Budge Schachte
Guitarist, composer, producer, and educator Budge Schachte has worked with a diverse cast of groups and artists, including playwright Tomson Highway, Tango Paradiso, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and many more. His playing can be heard on several film soundtracks. Budge co-leads the gypsy jazz group Van Django, which has recorded 4 CDs and toured in Canada, USA, Europe, and China.
Stephen Nikleva
From recording and touring with renegade Rockabilly wild man Ray Condo (and currently with Petunia & the Vipers), to touring the world with Sarah McLachlan, to a long association with Romanian Roma Jazz violinist Lache Cercel, Stephen has enjoyed and learned from this variety. All these influences are heard in his album "Square Moon", which has been described as “Weirdo space-age surf lounge for the terminally hip and playful”. The Georgia Straight called it “…a tour de force…pure retro fun with a sparkly nitro finish”.
Boyd Norman
Bassist Boyd Norman has over 5 decades of experience as a studio musician and touring performer.
His career as a freelance studio bassist includes projects for CBC, as well as with Sunshine Coast musicians including The Rakish Angles, Georgia Fats, Farm Team and Joe Stanton.
Boyd is delighted to have been part of the Aria di Tango recording project and to be back again to see so many friends at the qathet Accordion Fest.
His career as a freelance studio bassist includes projects for CBC, as well as with Sunshine Coast musicians including The Rakish Angles, Georgia Fats, Farm Team and Joe Stanton.
Boyd is delighted to have been part of the Aria di Tango recording project and to be back again to see so many friends at the qathet Accordion Fest.
Terry Martyniuk
Drummer / percussionist Terry Martyniuk has been playing a wide variety of musical styles for over 50 years. He enjoys collaborating and creating musical chemistry with others. Retired from the television broadcast industry, his other pastimes include accordion, Core Energetics facilitation, gardening, hiking and spending time with his grandchildren.
Victoria Accordion Club Band
Founded in 2002, the Victoria Accordion Club (VAC) has up to 30 accordion enthusiasts attending monthly meetings and band rehearsals at the SHOAL Centre in Sidney. The VAC Band is made up of 15 to 20 accordionists, ranging in levels from beginner to advanced.
Through the hard work and dedication of its members, the group has gained significant popularity and now performs regularly at local venues and cultural events throughout the Victoria area.
The VAC Band performs a diverse repertoire, featuring popular contemporary songs as well as selections from renowned musical productions.
Through the hard work and dedication of its members, the group has gained significant popularity and now performs regularly at local venues and cultural events throughout the Victoria area.
The VAC Band performs a diverse repertoire, featuring popular contemporary songs as well as selections from renowned musical productions.
Martin Hergt
Martin will be on site at the Fest for accordion sales, tune-ups, and repairs.
Tempo Trend Music was established by Martin’s father 60 years ago in Victoria. He was a watchmaker by trade and always had a love for accordions. When Martin’s father was working in Sechelt in 1960, he was slowly introduced to the accordion business by a person who was in touch with the Canadian Accordions Institute. This person had a love for accordions and offered Martin's father Vancouver Island as the territory to deal with the Canadian Accordions Institute. So Martin’s father started his accordion business while still working as a watchmaker.
This was the beginning of Tempo Trend Music and Martin and his father, Karl, built it up from there. They moved into the current location in 1967. Martin started working there as a teen and has been working in the business for over 45 years.
What started as a business that focused on accordion sales expanded over the years to include teaching accordion lessons.
Tempo Trend's mission:
We aim to help people with all kinds of musical needs. We are a full end-to-end store making music accessible to everyone.
Tempo Trend Music was established by Martin’s father 60 years ago in Victoria. He was a watchmaker by trade and always had a love for accordions. When Martin’s father was working in Sechelt in 1960, he was slowly introduced to the accordion business by a person who was in touch with the Canadian Accordions Institute. This person had a love for accordions and offered Martin's father Vancouver Island as the territory to deal with the Canadian Accordions Institute. So Martin’s father started his accordion business while still working as a watchmaker.
This was the beginning of Tempo Trend Music and Martin and his father, Karl, built it up from there. They moved into the current location in 1967. Martin started working there as a teen and has been working in the business for over 45 years.
What started as a business that focused on accordion sales expanded over the years to include teaching accordion lessons.
Tempo Trend's mission:
We aim to help people with all kinds of musical needs. We are a full end-to-end store making music accessible to everyone.
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