HENLEY'S Naomi Vallance has been widely acclaimed for her “strong bluesy voice” with its “rich undertones” and “impressive range”. Having trained for four years in the performing arts — though as an actor rather than a singer — Naomi, originally from Cornwall, won the national heat of the UK Open Mic competition earlier in her career.

Then, last year, Naomi was named Performer of the Year in the prestigious Sue Ryder awards.

So, as her professional singing career goes from strength to strength, Naomi is now receiving well-deserved recognition. She has made several single records and has penned some songs.

A first album is planned, along with live appearances including recently at the Henley Fringe Festival and during the local Brakspear Jazz and Blues Week this November.

Naomi is also a founder-member of Sam Brown’s International Ukulele Club of Sonning Common which has involved various TV, radio and festival performances.

“It’s funny, but some of my best-ever moments have been playing in Sam’s Ukulele Club,” Naomi said. “I’ll never forget the excitement of playing to a huge crowd at the big Cornbury event in 2012.

“The mix of enthusiastic amateurs in the group playing alongside some top professionals works brilliantly and with Sam Brown directing us all, it is always amazing.”

So, how did Naomi become involved in music rather than acting, which she had trained to do? “I was always interested in musical theatre and there had been lots of recorded music at home – like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder or Elvis. Later I was heavily into Norah Jones and Alanis Morissette as well as the divas like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. I loved the drama of their performances and the fantastic vocal range they have.

“But, apart from playing the flute a bit, I’d never performed much music and certainly never saw that as a career option.” Naomi added: “Then, when I was feeling low one day after I had broken up with my first serious boyfriend, my two brothers suggested I go along to a karaoke night here in Henley. I wasn’t keen but they insisted it would help cheer me up. So I went along and sang Alanis Morissette’s Ironic.

“I just did it as a kind of therapy for myself and wasn’t bothered about people’s reactions. Plus I didn’t know it was actually a karaoke competition. Anyway, I won. Eventually I ended up in the national finals.

“I found I’d really enjoyed singing to a crowd, loved it, in fact. Later I entered the Open Mic competition but by then I was singing in pubs and clubs, though still working as a secretary. So things started to happen from there.”

She said: “Singing in the Open Mic final in Southampton’s Guildhall was wonderful. There was a big audience and I had lots of support. I could see I was carrying the crowd along with me as I sang and that’s a fabulous feeling you never forget.

“It was a brilliant experience and maybe my years of theatrical training helped me not to be nervous. Though I was surprised how edgy and aggressively competitive some of the other contestants were — which is quite different from my experience of real professional musicians who usually aren’t like that at all.

“From there, I have sought to take almost any opportunity to broaden my experience and work with as big a range of professional musicians as possible.

“I have met some wonderful people. For example, there is Annie Parker, a professional flautist and saxophonist who lives in Henley and she quite often plays with me now.

“And I was lucky enough to meet Sam Brown before she started her various uke groups. Sam actually gave me vocal tuition and taught me about stage craft. I learned so much from her, mainly because she really listens and doesn’t try to mould you into another version of her. She was very positive about my song-writing, too.”

Winning the Sue Ryder Performer of the Year award in 2013 must have been very satisfying? “It certainly was. I am now more determined than ever to forge forwards with my musical career. I would like to perform all around the UK and especially to do more London-based performances including at Ronnie Scott’s.

“The retro-style jazz singer Rebecca Poole who is from the Henley area originally was at school with me and her career is now surging ahead so that’s an inspiration. And Mollie Marriott (Steve Marriott’s daughter) who is currently recording in the USA as well as Megan Henwood who won BBC Radio 2’s Young Folk Award, are friends who also attended my comprehensive school here in Henley. I admire what they are achieving, too.”

Naomi said: “My future plans include performing at the local Jazz and Blues Week in the autumn. I would also like to sing at The Crooked Billet pub in Stoke Row which is a favourite with all the musicians.

“The big lesson I’ve learned is that to succeed in music, you really must enjoy it so much that, even if you can’t make a fortune from it, you still have no regrets at all about pursuing your dream.

“One thing I have loved is performing with and teaching music to young people. I was involved in the Henley Youth Festival and ran a workshop teaching ukulele to seven-year-olds. It was so much fun and it makes me very optimistic about the future.”