Our Team!
Along with our very important artistic committee, the volunteers on this page make the Soirée magic happen year-after-year!
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
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
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!
Amyleigh Harrison
Greater Charlotte Ukulele (Charlotte, NC)
Jam Coordinator
AmyLeigh loves a good tune and a good laugh! Since 2010 she dived deep into her musical roots, picked up a ukulele and never looked back. She writes, sings strums and teaches through the ukulele. Amy, her voice, her custom Mya-Moe, Mille, a guitarist and saxophonist tour the local nursing home circuit ukulele when the world is not in pandemic mode.
Lucy Nickerson
Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Vendor Coordinator
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
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.
Matt Michrina
Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (Altoona, PA)
Soirée Planning Committee
Matt Michrina works for Sheetz as a Planogram Analyst and spends his spare time volunteering backstage (and sometimes on stage) for Altoona Community Theatre and Things Unseen Theatre, in addition to serving as Allegheny Ukulele Kollective’s Secretary. When he’s not volunteering, Matt enjoys spending time with his partner Emily and their three cats, Ann Purrkins, Prince Berenger, and Chip Potts.
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.
