Welcome to the Gaithersburg UkeFest Website
2023 Gaithersburg UkeFest Artists
Bob Tigert
Gracie Terzian
Gracie Terzian
Nashville, Tennessee
2nd Appearance at GUF
Bob Tigert started his career in the music business - writing, playing, producing and doing Live Sound across North America. In 1987, he founded a video production company that eventually won over 70 national/international awards and took him to 60+ countries on 4 continents.
Bob returned to music on a semi-professional basis, playing bass and guitar in several bluegrass bands and producing 7 albums and numerous single projects… one of which introduced him to the power and versatility of the ukulele.
He is half of a remarkable ukulele duo with Lisa Webb, who have performed at numerous Festivals, concerts and showcases across the country. His much-acclaimed band "Bob’s Your Uncle - Nashville" was formed in 2016 and were described by one NPR radio host as “my favorite new band out of Nashville.” They were featured in the Summer 2022 issue of Ukulele Magazine, in an article that closed with, “it’s not just the diverse musical menu they serve up. It’s the amount of joy emanating from the stage as they play.”
His CD project, "BT SOLO - Live Internet Performances Recorded 2020-2021," was glowingly reviewed in the Fall 2022 issue of Ukulele Magazine, ending with, "Tigert's playing on his various Lanikai ukuleles is bold and assertive: and there's variation a 'plenty in his strumming and fingerpicking technique. The man can play!"
His teaching efforts are based upon his "Plays Well With Others" concept that explains how to re-think the specific disciplines of Preparation, Practice and Performance as integrated parts of a musician's betterment.
Bob Tigert is a Sponsored Artist of Lanikai Ukuleles.
Bob was a big part of the 2022 ukulele festival in Gaithersburg. He taught many workshops and played UBass with more than one ukulele artist during each of the evening concerts. His performance on Saturday evening with Lisa Webb was fantastic, performing originals and covers. We are thrilled to have him back for the 2023 festival!
Gracie Terzian
Gracie Terzian
Gracie Terzian
New York, New York
3rd Appearance at GUF
Have you ever seen a harp ukulele? I personally thought this was a very interesting instrument. I mean, who thinks of playing two different instruments at the same time, on one instrument?
Although she’s comfortable singing jazz standards, Terzian distinguishes herself by writing her own songs. Watching her, the restlessness was visceral, a carefully channeled intensity just waiting to bust out.
Gracie was a wonderful team player during the 2022 UkeFest, substituting during at least one of the workshops. She was also a staff member as an artist during the 2019 UkeFest.
Arden Fujiwara
Gracie Terzian
Arden Fujiwara
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Seattle, Washington
1st Appearance at GUF
A hidden gem in the Seattle music scene, Arden proves that the ukulele is more than just a novelty instrument. Born and raised in Hawaii, he learned from ukulele masters such as Jake Shimabukuro and Troy Fernandez, but now forges his own style in Seattle. Arden fuses tradition with the progressive to break the expectations and elevates the ukulele to new boundaries.
Arden was first introduced to the ukulele in the 4th grade; however, it was not love at first sight. It wasn’t until several years later when he started listening to Ka’au Crater Boys and Pure Heart, when he inspired to pick up the ukulele on his own. From there his skill and love of the ukulele grew exponentially. As the years progressed, he became intrigued by various types of music which reflected Arden’s unique style.
Featured European Artist
Peter Moss - Manchester, UK
1st Appearance at GUF
Peter has been playing the ukulele since his 8th birthday. After mastering the basics, Peter’s father introduced him to his mentor, Ray Bernard, from whom he learned solo chord melody. From that moment on, Peter became focused on this style. He was also influenced by the recordings of Roy Smeck from the USA, and this is evident in his concert material. Peter was the first person to perform the William Tell Overture, at the wee age of 12, winning a national competition against seasoned players! A proud moment for his dad, for sure! Peter spent 30 years exploring other instruments as well and contributing to various recording projects. Returning exclusively to his first love, around about 2013, his performance skills and his audience
grew exponentially!
With his ukulele, Peter Moss has been very fortunate to have toured around America and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, throughout Europe and of course good old Blighty! Added to that, he has appeared on BBC television and radio on numerous occasions. Peter’s concerts are engaging, offering a wide range of material from different genres including laid back tunes, intense material and everything in between.
Chrissy Ukulele
Chrissy Ukulele
Chrissy Ukulele
Melbourne, Australia/L.A., California
2nd Appearance at GUF
From the Kanile'a website: Chrissy is an international performer who has played venues from Hollywood Boulevard to Broadway in Nashville, headlined the Melbourne Ukulele Festival in 2020, and performed at the Gaithersburg Ukulele Festival in Maryland in 2022. She has scored the music for two feature films Highest Point (with Bernard De La Cour) and With Flying Colours (with Liam Fox O’Brien).
She is also passionate about teaching songwriting and running online classes.
Chrissy was a big part of the 2022 ukulele festival in Gaithersburg. She taught many workshops which were well received by the attendees. Her performance on Friday evening was full of energy, performing originals and covers. She also did a wonderful job as an emcee during the Saturday Evening Concert. We are thrilled to have her back for the 2023 festival!
Lisa Webb
Chrissy Ukulele
Chrissy Ukulele
Nashville, Tennessee
2nd Appearance at GUF
Lisa Webb is a multi-instrumentalist and jazz vocalist. She studied music growing up in St. Louis and earned a Master’s in Composition from North Texas State University. She has been fortunate to have performed and appeared with the LA Jazz Choir, Steve Allen, Bob Hope, Glen Campbell, The Romeo Sisters, Leslie Lewis and recorded on the Concord Jazz label with Rosemary Clooney.
After making Nashville her permanent home she has continued her career as a professional musician and songwriter and happily added the ukulele to her list of instruments! Her first ukulele recording UKE HAPPY has helped spread a little joy around to a pandemic world.
Currently Lisa is honored to be an OHANA artist and is working on a new recording!
Lisa was a big part of the 2022 ukulele festival in Gaithersburg. She taught many workshops which were well received by the attendees. Her performance on Saturday evening with Bob Tigert was awesome, performing originals and covers. We are thrilled to have her back for the 2023 festival!
Kirk Jones
Kirk Jones
Kirk Jones
Huntsville, Alabama
1st Appearance at GUF
Professional Ukulele FUNsician from Huntsville, Alabama.
Kirk is asked to be at many ukulele festivals as a teacher and performer. In May of 2022, he helped lead the Alabama Ukulele Festival.
Calico
Kirk Jones
Kirk Jones
Vienna, Austria
1st Appearance at GUF
Calico in a nutshell: Two voices - two ukuleles - one bass!
Tina (Niederpold) had her first glorious stage performance in a Nativity play in kindergarten. Unfortunately, she sang so quietly not even mice could hear her. Since then, she practiced in various church and gospel choirs and her voice reached humanly audible levels. She tried out various instruments in her life and finally fell in love with the ukulele in spring 2018.
Juliana (Steiger) taught herself to play guitar at the age of ten to play at campfires for her girl scouts. She fell in love with the ukulele when she first borrowed it from a friend. It is a much friendlier instrument and uke players are less strict. She hates that the guitar has a lot of baggage ... the uke is just sweet and forgiving.
Featured Hawaiian Artist
Faith Thompson Ako - The California Bay Area’s Premier Female Artist in Traditional and Contemporary
Faith was one of the five finalists for the 2021 Na Hoku Hanohano Award “Hawaiian Album of the Year”. She was also a finalist for
“Polynesian Entertainer of the Year” by the Polynesian
Heritage Awards in Daly City, San Francisco, as well.
Her tenured album, Ku‘u ‘Āina Aloha speaks to her birthplace
on the windward side of O‘ahu where she and her 15 brothers, sisters
were raised. Speaking of this beautiful place, Faith admitted, "This is where my heart is truly at peace.” The CD includes six original compositions, Faith continued, “...it was important for me to
share about the fragrances, sounds, sights, and
beauty of the islands. And of course, I’ve included some of
my favorite hula standards, which are a must!”
As a child growing up in Hawai, she was influenced by her
culture and the sounds of Rock-n-Roll and Motown. Performing
ukulele pieces from an early age, playing the piano by notes
and ear are her favorite instruments (besides bass and drums).
She has taught quite a few workshops in Japan, Martha’s
Vineyard, Pacific Northwest and her home in Los Angeles and
the Bay Area. Since the early 80’s, Faith has been a member of
several local Hawaiian bands and began a solo career in 2007.
As the Bay Area’s premier award-winning female artist in
Traditional/Contemporary Hawaiian music, she has graced her
audiences with her charismatic personality and funny nature.
Most surely you won’t have to get on a plane for some “Aloha”!
This song Behold La'ie is about my hometown where I grew up on the North Shore of O'ahu. Written by Aunty Ivy Kekuku for a special couple who loved our little town and would say, "behold La'ie" for all its beauty!
Uncle William
The Maxson's - Uke 66
The Maxson's - Uke 66
Huntingtown, Maryland
3rd Appearance at GUF
William Ernestburg is from Laie, Oahu. He is a graduate of Kahuku High School, and has 30 years service in the U.S. Coast Guard (retired 2016). He was stationed in various locations, including NJ, FL, NC, and DC; He is a member of Hālau O ‘Aulani, the Hawaii State Society and the ‘Ukulele Hui’; He volunteers regularly at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C.
William was a part of the 2019 and 2022 ukulele festivals in Gaithersburg. He taught strum-along workshops which focused on the Hawaiian songs from the Daily Ukulele Books. We are thrilled to have him back for the 2023 festival!
The Maxson's - Uke 66
The Maxson's - Uke 66
The Maxson's - Uke 66
Springfield, Missouri
2nd Appearance at GUF
Uke 66 delivers ukulele music with skill and depth, playing songs in an unexpectedly diverse repertoire that demonstrates the small instrument’s diversity in successfully tackling anything from jazz to swing to folk to Johnny Cash.
Created in 2014 by husband-and-wife duo Rick and Karen Maxson, Uke 66 performs at street fairs, festivals, fundraisers and luaus, and provides an intimate, evocative soundtrack for a variety of other celebrations.
The duo, often accompanied by a ukulele bass-playing friend, specializes in original compositions, covers, country, folk, and vintage aloha and contemporary Hawaiian songs. There are no drums, backing tracks or electronic effects. As the band says, it’s “unapologetically ukulele.”
Uke 66 has performed throughout the Midwest and in Florida, California, Maryland, Hawaii, Japan, and Mexico. Online festivals include those in Australia, Malaysia and Maryland.
In 2019, Rick won best solo performance and best original song at the International Ukulele
Contest in Honolulu, and in 2020 Uke 66 won best group performance.
Uke 66 were a big part of the success of the 2022 festival, and Nani and I were thrilled when Rick and Karen accepted our invitation to appear again at the 2023 Gaithersburg UkeFest!
Amy Kucharik
Amy Kucharik
Amy Kucharik
Somerville, Massachusetts
2nd Appearance at GUF
Kerrville New Folk winning songwriter and performer Amy Kucharik [/kuh-CHAR-ick/] energizes swing dance, folk festival and listening room audiences alike. Drawing from blues, folk and Vaudeville traditions and with a street-smart stagecraft honed in the subways of Boston, Amy transports her audience to a place both timeless and familiar, but nevertheless innovative. She performs as a one-woman band with ukulele, tenor guitar, foot percussion, mouth trumpet and harmonica, or with bands featuring top New England musicians. Combining poignant lyrics and a danceable swing, Amy’s music has drawn comparisons to Maria Muldaur, Lake Street Dive, and Anais Mitchell. Amy was a formal showcase artist at SWRFA in 2015, WFMT Folk DJ Rich Warren’s pick for the NERFA DJ showcase in 2016, and a Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist for 2018. Her second full-length album of original music, "Until the Words Are Gone," was released in 2018.
Amy was a big part of the 2022 ukulele festival in Gaithersburg. She taught many workshops which were well received by the attendees. Her performance on Saturday evening was splendid, performing originals and covers. We are thrilled to have her back for the 2023 festival!
Jim D'Ville
Amy Kucharik
Amy Kucharik
Royal Oak, Michigan
2nd Appearance at GUF
Jim is the authority of the ukulele "Play by Ear" method. He's has taught ukulele all over the world, and brings a unique, funny, and effective way of conveying helpful tips to his students. His performances are also entertaining and fun.
Jim was a big part of the 2022 ukulele festival in Gaithersburg. He taught workshops, performed on Saturday evening, and was the emcee for the Thursday Evening Concert. We are thrilled to have him back for the 2023 festival!
Featured Brazilian Artists
Vinicius Vivas
Vinicius Vivas
Vinicius Vivas
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2nd Appearance at GUF
Vinicius is a Professor of Music at the College of Application of UFRJ (Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro).
2011 - Present
He holds a degree in Lic. in Ed. Artistic - Hab.: Music at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2009
His final paper was entitled: "Informal Learning and Its Importance for the School of Music''.
Vinicius Vivas was a big part of what made the 2022 UkeFest a success. His workshops were well attended and well received. He was the headliner for the Friday Evening Concert.
Aline Kelly
Vinicius Vivas
Vinicius Vivas
Mariana, Brazil
1st Appearance at GUF
Aline Kelly is a Brazilian musician who graduated in Music at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais – Brazil. The piano was her first instrument until 2016. In 2016 Aline was introduced to the ukulele and started playing some classical arrangements for ukulele by Guilherme Paoliello, a Harmony and Counterpoint teacher at the university. Aline was so impressed with this tiny instrument that she started experimenting with her own arrangements. Her final work at university was about Arrangements for Ukulele Solo. This work was supervised by Tabajara Belo and Vinicius Vivas.
In July 2017 Aline began the James Hill Ukulele Initiative – Teacher Certification Program, in Vancouver, Canada.
Her project Ukemaniak aims to create informative material and arrangements for the ukulele, contributing to the promotion of the instrument in Brazil.
Aline was one of our favorite artists to have on our Performers Showcase during the pandemic. She was also a wonderful teacher and workshop instructor, always producing very professional notes for her workshops.
As mentioned earlier, Aline has been a student of Vinicius Vivas, who was a big part of the 2022 ukulele festival. She has also been a featured artist for the 2021 online Strathmore Ukulele Festival.
Nani Lowery
Las Vegas, Neveda
Ukulele teacher, workshop instructor, ukulele performer, and festival organizer.
Gaithersburg UkeFest 2020-2021 Virtual Programming in review
By the Numbers
From April, 2020 to June, 2021 Gaithersburg UkeFest hosted 150 workshops. Not counting July and August, 2020, we averaged hosting 11.5 ukulele workshops a month during the pandemic.
European Ukulele Artists
If you had told me when we first started organizing ukulele festivals, that we would be rubbing virtual shoulders with the likes of Peter Moss, Elisabeth Pfeiffer, Samantha Muir, Natasha Ghosh, Phil Doleman, and Marcus Rantanen, I would have asked, "Who are they?" But now I recognize them as some of the premier ukulele artists in Europe. We made friends with 19 ukulele artists from Europe altogether, and are still baffled how it all came about.
Ukulele Artists from South America
Known to some as the "Jake Shimabukuro" of South America, Vinicius Vivas dazzled us as a performer, but also as an instructor. Aline Kelly, also from Brazil, and Flor Ansaldo from Argentina, wowed us with their incredible notes for their workshops, and were registrant favorites! Jenifer Cabrera performed wonderfully during a couple of Performer Showcases, and also shared the instructor duties with Aline Kelly during a workshop selection. We were thrilled to have these 4 South Americans join our instructor corp.
Those Are Some Big Numbers!!!
Collectively, we hosted workshops taught by instructors from the lower 48, Canada, and Hawaii. There were 42 instructors who taught one or more workshops during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you add in the 23 ukulele artists from South America and Europe, you come to the realization that we organized 150 distinct ukulele workshops taught by 65 instructors from around the globe!
It Was a Team Effort
Many folks were curious how we pulled this off...and for 13 months! Keith did the prep work. He was contacting the instructors, sometimes guiding them to a title for the workshop, and scheduling them at a time that would work for them and our overall schedule. Keith also registered people for the workshops, and worked on the finances, from the registrants, and paying the instructors.
Nani handled the hosting duties, opening up Zoom, welcoming students to the workshop, and working with the instructors to make sure they knew how to use the shared screen, etc.
For the 2022 Gaithersburg UkeFest
When considering who to invite to the festival, there is some preference to those who have worked with us virtually since April of 2020. We envision it a kind of reunion, where we can all meet together in person with our ukulele friends we made virtually in the Gaithersburg UkeFest efforts.
Our Ukulele & Local Partners
