Festival Organizer

---

England 

Peter is a professional, international Ukulele performer and workshop presenter residing in the UK. 

His performance is quite unique covering many styles incorporating the Ukulele, Banjolele and vocal. Everywhere he has appeared he has been re-invited.
​
His workshops are described as informative, but also lots of fun!

Workshops

1. Intros & Outros - Top & Tail your favourite tunes using 3 keys and different tempo’s.
2. Using Your Ear - training your ear to recognise different type of chords you already play.

Italy  

Ukulollo, is an Italian ukulele player from Lucca, Tuscany. He  has published 5 original albums and a a cover songs. Ukulollo has toured the world: from Italy to England, Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Israel, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Singapore. 

Ukulollo is an ambassador of Ukuleles for Peace, the wonderful project run by Paul Moore which gathers together Jewish and Arab children into a ukulele orchestra in the state of Israel. He Plays Ohana Ukuleles with Aquila Strings and Living Waters Strings.

Workshops

1. Fantastic Chords and Where to Put Them - In this workshop we will discover the magical power of slash chords, add chords, sus chords and unnamed new chords. We'll find out a way to create them and most importantly we'll discover where and how to place them in our arrangements.
2. Adventures Up and Down the Neck -  Playing up and down the neck can be frightening, but after this workshop it'll be a piece of cake!  Most of the time music works very well when something stands still while something else moves, in this case we're gonna use our 4 strings like 4 different voices. Two strings will play a fixed chord while two other strings will sing harmonized melodies up and down the neck. This way your ukulele will simultaneously create a chord and 2 different voices, sounding very rich and fancy.  Every attendees will get 6 charts: the maps for their first adventures!

Brazil 

Vinícius Vivas is a Brazilian ukulele player from Rio de Janeiro (the land of Bossa Nova). Her performed solo ukulele and with gypsy jazz ukulele trio in Blue Note Rio, wrote the first Master Dissertation about ukulele in Brazil and created the Ukulele Orchestra in one of biggest Brazilian Universities (UFRJ). He also played gigs and workshopped in South Korea and United States. 

Vinícius was born and raised on Brazilian Music. He knows how to bring the Samba and Bossa Nova swing to ukulele. He also plays Jazz, Rock, Pop Music and Choro.

Workshops

1. Ukulele Orchestra - Learn to  play and perform one special ensemble arrangement alongside other ukulele players.
2. Finger-picking patterns from A to Z - Learn some fundamental patterns to compliment famous songs.

Pennsylvania 

Christopher Davis-Shannon's music is the essence of honest simplicity. Bringing together influence ranging from Fats Waller to Chet Baker, he creates an atmosphere that will instantly transport you back to jazz clubs, and speakeasies of the early 20th century. Not Content being labelled a traditionalist, he forges ahead breathing new life into old classics, weaving together a sound that is enjoyed by both young and old.

As a multi-Instrumentalist, songwriter, and educator, based in Philadelphia, Davis-Shannon maintains a steady tour schedule with his own music as well as a sideman for various acts. He brings to the stage not just the pure joy of music, but a vast knowledge of the history behind the songs that he holds close to his heart. His intricate instrumental work and plaintive vocals are infused with soulfulness which cannot be faked, and a respect for his predecessors which is rarely equaled.

Workshops

1. The Style of George Formby -  Breaking down the dazzling right hand techniques of the great George Formby. In this workshop we'll learn the building blocks of the Formby style including the split stroke, his unique approach to triples as well as the fan strum. Even if you've never heard of Formby this is a fun way to challenge your right hand's rhythmic sensibilities. 
2. Loke Lani -  A workshop unlocking a beautiful Ernsest Ka’ai tune. We’ll learn three distinct right hand patterns from the first virtuoso ukulele players: Ernest K’ai. Learn to apply new rhythms as well as textures to this tiny instrument and walk away with an entire solo piece under your fingertips.
3. Clawhammer -  Learn how to adapt an old time banjo technique to ukulele (High G recommended). We'll break down the basics of the clawhammer style and learn a simple arrangement of 'Cornbread and butterbeans'. If you can play a G major chord then you're all set for this workshop! 

California

Los Angeles-based ukulele player/singer/songwriter Chrissy serves up acoustic pop and some serious prowess on the four-stringed instrument.

After a successful grassroots 2018 USA tour, Chrissy returned to her native country of Australia to write the score to the award-winning coming-of-age feature film - Highest Point with Bernard de la Coeur, pen new tracks for her debut solo acoustic album, and play to Aussie audiences.

In 2019, Chrissy began recording her first solo acoustic album entitled Conception, which was released in three volumes over nine months. In the same year, she toured Australia and the USA and played at The Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival and The Melbourne Ukulele Festival.

2020 was another productive year for Chrissy, who was picked up by Kanile'a Ukulele, one of the top ukulele manufacturers globally, to be one of their endorsed artists. 

At the start of 2021, Chrissy teamed up with Liam Fox O'Brien to write the score for the documentary feature film With Flying Colours, which won multiple awards! 

Workshops

1. Starting With The Groove - This workshop will show you how to come up with a solid rhythmic groove on your uke as the building blocks to a new song drawing on influences from various genres
2. Creating a Killer Riff - In this workshop you will analyze the riffs to some hit songs, then create one during the class session.

Tennessee

After a global career in music and video production, Bob Tigert produced a series of recordings featuring a singer/songwriter who was specializing in ukulele-based music. He ended up playing several tracks on the project with a borrowed instrument, and realized the possibilities that the uke created, Since then, he has played on countless recording sessions, played festivals, clubs, workshops and showcases around the country. His band Bob’s Your Uncle (Nashville) has 3 CD projects out, with more to come!

Workshops

1. Effective Bass Playing for Uke-ologists - Groove comes from the bottom (end) up, so know what the role of the bass player is, can be, or should never be by attending this workshop.
2. "Owning" a Song: The Art and Purpose of Song Arrangement - Playing almost ANY song on the ukulele already changes the construct of that song - so why not push it even further?  How do you put your unique stamp on any song - and "own" it for your performance, without being untrue to the song itself OR to your instrument. 
3. Plays Well With Others" - an overview of How to Think About the Disciplines of "Preparation, Practice and Performance" and how they interrelate. Plus, there will be a specific focus on leading a group to better performances and more efficient rehearsals. 

Connecticut

Uncle Zac is a ukulele performer and teacher residing in Connecticut. He has played the ukulele for over 55 years. He has a wide range of styles and materials he performs and teaches.

As a solo uke performer, at various venues from the Gershwin Hotel in NYC to local senior centers, he plays music from Leon Redbone to Jimmy Buffett to Allan Sherman and more. Even though he is primarily a baritone ukulele player, he never travels with just one ukulele because “each one has a different voice”, adding it’s own flavor to any song. 

He gives most of the credit to Uncle Tony, his teacher and mentor. Without him, Uncle Zac would have never been introduced to such an amazing instrument!

 Uncle Zac was part of the 2019 Gaithersburg UkeFest teaching/performing staff. 

Tennessee

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!

Workshops

1. Vocal Techniques, the Ukulele, and Performing; Part 1 - This workshop will be a session on matching pitches, finding your true range, breathing and vocal strengthening exercises. 
2. Vocal Techniques, the Ukulele, and Performing; Part 2 - This workshop will emphasis choosing a key for each song to best show off your voice with your instrument and performance techniques. Time permitting, the session would include the students singing live to the class.
3. Intro to Melody & Chord Playing - Lisa will present a little music theory so that players can see where the melody sits in the chords of a song, as well as the connector notes. You will also learn related alternate chord positions which can help in finding the melody easily.   

New York City 

A harp ukulele? Have you every seen one? Gracie thought this was a very interesting instrument. She thought, who thinks of playing two different instruments at the same time, on one instrument? Gracie plays the harp ukulele, but there is so much more to her than that. 

 Take a listen, she sounds jazzy. Some have felt as though she would be great as a Broadway singer. Her voice has so much character to it, I feel like I’m back in the old days where everything was black and white.

Workshops

1. The Magic of the Circle of 4ths/5ths - You will learn how to draw the circle of 4ths/5ths by memory, and then learn the many different things it can be used for; such as figuring out the notes in major scales, key signatures, how “close” they are to each other, relative minor keys/chords, diatonic chords, moving up and down by 4ths and 5ths, and transposing music.
2. All About Intervals: Theory lesson - This will be a crash course on intervals. Intervals tend to be taught in a complicated way which involves looking at the number of whole steps and half steps, but Gracie will teach you how to properly name intervals in a much easier way. Time permitting, the class will also tackle descending intervals, and practice singing different intervals by ear and associating them with famous songs and melodies (which is great for ear training).

Gracie was part of the 2019 Gaithersburg UkeFest teaching/performing staff.

Ohio

 Jim D'Ville is a music educator and facilitator who is on a mission to get ukulele players off the paper and playing music by ear. He has taught his Play Ukulele By Ear workshops to thousands of players in the United States, Canada and Australia. Jim is the author of the Play Ukulele By Ear DVD series and hosts the popular Play Ukulele By Ear website (http://www.playukulelebyear.com). His approach to teaching ukulele has been featured on Oregon Public Broadcasting's Oregon Art Beat and he is a regular contributor to James Hill's e-magazine Ukulele, Yes! 

Workshops

1. The Emotional Value of Chords - There is a chord associated with each of the seven notes of a major scale. When played in context, each chord evokes a certain emotional response from the listener. Learning these chordal relationships will open your ears to the chord progressions to millions of songs. This is the first step to playing by ear. Knowledge of finger positions for C, dm, em, F, G, am, bdim helpful.
2. Buddy Holly By Ear - Buddy Holly changed the face of rock and roll. And he did it in just 18 months! With blues-based classics like That'll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, and Oh Boy, Buddy Holly melded the best of rock, rockabilly and blues into his own style of music. Other classic songs you'll learn include Everyday, Maybe Baby, and It's So Easy. Jim will also share his experiences in visiting the Norman Petty studio in Clovis, New Mexico where many of these timeless classics were recorded.
3. The Crickets & The Beatles - Where do you think The Beatles got the idea for their band name? That’s right— The Crickets! With that first entomological connection John, Paul, George and Ringo took the musical ideas of Buddy Holly & The Crickets to Fab Four infamy. The Beatles recorded no less than seven Buddy Holly songs and played as many as thirteen of his songs in concert in their early years. In this fun and engaging workshop you’ll play and learn the exciting chord progressions and musical hooks The Beatles borrowed from Buddy Holly to create the most exciting rock and roll music of the early 1960’s. The Beatles loved Buddy, learn why.

Pennsylvania

Melissa is an artist, musician, Pilates instructor, wife, mother, and teacher. The arts have always interested her and she acquired a BFA in Photography and MFA in Painting, both from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA.

She started playing the ukulele after an ill fated meeting with a rotary cutter that sliced off the side of her finger and left her with reduced feeling and hypersensitivity in her index finger. She was formerly a guitar player, and after the injury found it too difficult to adapt to the loss of feeling in my finger with steel strings.

She is also the creator of the Hug Strap!

Workshops

1. Songwriting 101
2. Bo Diddley Workshop
3. Baritone Ukulele
4. Introduction to Electronics

Wales

David John Roche has composed pieces for vacuum cleaners and orchestra, epic planetarium shows, customised Dutch street organs, rock bands, video games, films, theatre shows, international orchestras, and anything beyond and in between. His music tends to inhabit one of two worlds. It is either celebratory and bright, consciously in opposition to the world in which it was written, or manic, detailed, and violent in response to the poverty and politics of our time. Roche’s compositions have been broadcast, televised, written about, and performed internationally to millions of people. He is the recipient of over 30 academic and professional awards.

And he loves the ukulele!!!

Maryland

Ukulele teacher, workshop instructor, ukulele performer, and festival organizer.

 Nani was part of the 2019 Gaithersburg UkeFest teaching/performing staff. 

Connecticut

“We’re 78 rpm in an MP3 world!” With a repertoire that includes swing tunes, standards and cowboy tunes from the 20s through 50s, the Fleas – Greg Doyle and Wendy Matthews – are itching to play their ukuleles for you.

Greg Doyle, on baritone uke, is a guitarist whose musical interests span Swing to Surf and beyond. He has been playing guitar since his teens and was a long-time member of Vic Schwarz’s Acoustic Workshop, a Hudson Valley-based, six-piece string band. Greg teaches uke and guitar privately.

Wendy Matthews, on soprano uke, was charmed by the instrument’s portability and quirkiness, and took it up a few years back to accompany her singing. She has been singing and playing a variety of instruments since her teens. In a previous life, she was a member of Bad Attitudes, a four-woman music and comedy troupe.

Pennsylvania

Ukulele One Man Band...
Ukulele Flailing, Harmonica Wailing, Suitcase Drumming, Kazoo Hum-Humming Ukulele Bundle of Joy!

Workshops

1. Adding harmonica to your ukulele
2. Improving Your Harmonica Playing
3. Performing for Children & Families
4. "Beatles" Strum Along
5. "Beatles " Open Mic