Highly recommended. This year was my first, I will be back and I will bring more people with me next year!
The Legacy Ukulele Ensemble is a group of adult players from across the United States and Canada who are directed and led by internationally acclaimed ukulele teacher, Peter Luongo. The ensemble is committed to learning/developing their music literacy and ukulele playing skills with the goal of performing and sharing their music with audiences.
Peter Luongo is the founder and former Musical Director of The Langley Ukulele Ensemble. The ensemble became internationally renowned under his tutelage and performed throughout North America, in Japan, and annually at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort in Hawaii. Peter's work was featured as the focal point of the award-winning documentary film, The Mighty Uke.
Casey MacGill performs music that swings. Nat "King" Cole Trio meets the Mills Brothers. Fats Waller meets Fats Domino. Slim Galliard meets Fred Astaire. It is American music of many decades and no decade in particular, all happening at the same time, woven into a seamless, beautiful whole. At the core of his sound are his band's sometimes sweet, sometimes rough-hewn three-part harmony vocals and a piano-ukulele-bass-and-drums rhythm section that swings in a variety of textures.
Aaron Baer is a multi-instrumentalist from Oshkosh, WI. Aaron started playing the ukulele in the mid 1990s and hasn’t turned back. Aaron has become known for playing the stovepipe as well as many homemade contraptions. He is a natural teacher and enthusiastic musician. This year he will be joined by Jeff Mitchell and Leif Larson.
After meeting at a venue in 1996 they realized they share a love for an obscure genre of music. Baer and Mitchell quickly joined forces and have been playing jug band music as Jackson Street Polecats.
A groovin' union of two ukuleles with compelling and versatile vocals! Jazz, Rock, Blues, country, Folk - both originals and way cool covers! Lisa Webb and Bob Tigert have long been well-respected musicians in Nashville, TN, but when they both showed up at a Nashville Ukulele Society meeting a few years back, they realized that their styles and talents complemented each other almost instinctively. A few years later, Lisa asked Bob to record one of her songs with her, and the chemistry just worked.
For 10 years, out of college, Bob Tigert worked in the music business, writing, playing, producing and doing Live Sound across North America; but he realized that the Music Biz was NOT going to be a positive influence on building a secure future for his growing family. So, 1987, Bob founded a video production company that eventually won over 70 national and international awards, and took him to 60+ countries on 4 continents.
Lisa Webb is a multi-instrumentalist and jazz vocalist. She studied music growing up in St. Louis and earned a Master's in Music Composition from North Texas State University. While residing in Los Angeles she was fortunate to have performed and recorded with the LA Jazz Choir, Steve Allen, Bob Hope, Glen Campbell, Leslie Lewis and recorded on the Concord Jazz label with Rosemary Clooney.
Highly recommended. This year was my first, I will be back and I will bring more people with me next year!
Everyone was friendly and encouraging. The level of the entertainment and instruction was top notch! I am looking forward to returning!
Great people, great fun, great workshops, Great jams and amazing organizers.
Always a great gathering of the ukulele community…a lot to learn and a lot of fun doing it!
An outstanding festival for ukulele players, both beginners and experienced. The ability to interact face-to-face with the amazing guest performers, other uke players, and vendors was invaluable.
The Soirée should win an award for the best organized ukulele festival!
The Soiree is a great program to attend. It is well organized, with a great deal of expertise, thoughtful planning and reasonable fees. Well seasoned presenters make the sessions productive and organized!
Top notch! Fantastic instructors! Very enthusiastic, informative and knowledgeable. Superb presentations. I learned so much this weekend
The Allegheny [Ukulele] Soirée is a ukulele smorgasbord...something for every age, talent level, social class...my friends are there
This festival is well run, feels intimate, and really helped grow my skills and push me to be a better player. I love the teaching artists, and the jams were fun!