The Curly Cousins
Children's music to inspire and delight
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ABOUT THE CURLY COUSINS

In response to the limited opportunities for children living in regional areas to experience live children's music, 'The Curly Cousins Project' was launched in Northern NSW in 2008. Miss B, Coco and Sunshine (also known as Laurel Cohn, Mandy Morris and Rochelle Wright) have been performing since then to a range of young audiences in the region and beyond. They have a combined wealth of experience as performers and recording artists in various bands and theatre companies over the past 20 years, and have worked in the Early Childhood Music sector as teachers and performers since 2002.

“There are so many benefits from engaging children in a musical experience. Our aim is not only to entertain but also to inspire, and to encourage the creative spirit in our children. With our shows and recordings we share our love of music using instruments from around the world, incorporating original material as well as some old favourites with the Curly touch. Seeing, hearing and interacting with the Curly Cousins allows children to engage with the familiar and be curious about the exotic."

The Curly Cousins present 30–55 minute scripted shows with rich harmonies, exotic instruments, interactive movement, audience participation and puppets. The dynamic performances are aimed at 2–10 year-olds, with an ability to engage parents and older siblings as well. They are perfect for mixed-age audiences at festivals, as well as targeted audiences at primary schools, preschools and day care centres. Click here to find out more about our live shows.
With extensive experience in the early childhood sector as performers and teachers, Mandy Morris, Laurel Cohn and Rochelle Wright offer interactive workshops and teacher-training. Click here to find out more about workshops and training.

MISS B – LAUREL COHN

Classically trained in three instruments, Laurel Cohn's particular love affair with the guitar has led her to explore a variety of styles, from folk to latin, from music for children to music for improvisational theatre. Her interest in African music led her to Tanzania where she studied with Master Musician Hukwe Zawose. She has performed with many different artists, including Margaret Roadnight and The Hottentots. She has taught in schools, preschools, day care centres and playgroups and works with professionals in the early childhood industry exploring ways of encouraging the creative spirit in young children. 

COCO – MANDY MORRIS

Mandy Morris trained as an actor at the Nimrod Theatre School, Sydney. She has many years of experience working in theatre for both adults and young people. Her most recent role as 'The Roly Poly Bird ' in The Byron Bay Theatre Company's production of Roald Dahl's The Twits delighted audiences both young and old. She is a current and founding member of Cape Byron Playback Theatre Company and singer with the band The Love Handles (30s–40s music). Her film credits include a leading role in the film Dancing on Glass. Mandy facilitates a music class for preschool age children where she shares her love of music, performance and song with her young son and other young children.

SUNSHINE – ROCHELLE WRIGHT

Rochelle Wright is currently Head of Early Childhood Music at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. She is a singer/ songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist passionately inspired to bring the joy of music into children's lives. Her music career began at age 16 as a solo artist performing along the east coast of Australia. Her travels took her to India, where she studied North Indian Kheyal singing and tabla drumming. Throughout the 90s Rochelle recorded albums and performed at all major Australian folk festivals with acts including 'The Hottentots', Indian-inspired trio 'Masala', vocal gypsy trio 'Magenta', and 'Tabla Tarang' duo with her husband. Rochelle worked in Melbourne as a voice teacher and choir conductor, as a marimba maker and as a member of the Melbourne women's Bulgarian choir, Petrunka. Now a mother of three daughters, Rochelle focuses her love of music on children and parents. She founded children's music classes 'Sing by the Sea' in 2003 in northern NSW with Laurel Cohn and has recorded an award-winning children's CD, 'The Jambu Tree', with Rob Shannon.