Along with our very important artistic committee, the volunteers on this page make the Soirée magic happen year-after-year!

Mike Holzer

Mike Holzer

Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Festival Director; Festival Co-Founder

Mike Holzer is a serial hobbyist who came down with a terrible case of UAS. Mike has been playing since 2012 and is a co-founder of the Allegheny Ukulele Soirée. Mike acts as both the Festival Director of the Allegheny Ukulele Soiree and as the "chief uke evangelist" of the Allegheny Ukulele Kollective. Mike has taught basic ukulele skills to hundreds of people over the years.

Amber Rozel

Amber Rozel

Steel City Ukuleles (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assistant Festival Director; Sponsor Liaison

Amber Rozel has been teaching musicians of all ages for over 20 years. She has been making the magic happen on ukulele for 5 years and recently  received the coveted Level 3 Teachers Certificate from the JHUI program. She performs with regional orchestras, the Bay Chamber Players, her (new!) band Evergreen Road, and with anyone that wants to have fun.

Adam Beiswenger

Adam Beiswenger

Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Stage Hand & Registraton Desk

Adam Beiswenger has decades of experience in stage hand work in the theatre, and brings expert knowledge to the setup and day-to-day runnings of the festival!

Lucy Nickerson

Lucy Nickerson

Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Artistic Committee

Lucy Nickerson is from Cresson, PA.  She is a 2003 graduate of Mount Aloysius College with a BA in English.  When she is not playing ukulele she is practicing her  juggling or participating in community theater.

Melanie Ramsey

Melanie Ramsey

Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Soirée Planning Committee

Melanie Ramsey is the former Children's Librarian at Hollisdaysburg Area Public Library and the current Director of Community Relations for the Borough of Hollidaysburg.  Melanie is a classically-trained violist and plays with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra and pit orchestras throughout the area. She also teaches private viola, violin, and ukulele lessons. Melanie sits on the Board of many local organizations, including the Allegheny Ukulele Kollective. 

Ed Smith

Ed Smith


Soirée Planning Committee

Ed works in Human Resources Information Technology and has been playing music since he was young, He has played piano, guitar, and ukulele over the years, recently returning to music via his daughter learning ukulele. In addition to music, he enjoys tinkering with instruments and electronics and spends many weekends volunteering as an Adult Leader for Moraine Trails Council BSA.

Image coming soon.

Lisa Beiswenger

Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Artistic Committee

Lisa Beiswenger is on our artistic committee