
Highly recommended. This year was my first, I will be back and I will bring more people with me next year!
We are now accepting applications to appear at the 2026 Allegheny Ukulele Soirée. Apply Here!
Daniel Ward is an accomplished musician, composer and educator, who has become one of the country's top clinicians and performers on the ‘ukulele circuit’. He is known for his command of Latin styles and teaches right hand techniques, adapting his style and knowledge from the classical and flamenco guitar.
He has been a featured performer and workshop instructor at festivals across the country, including: Reno Ukulele festival, West Coast Ukulele retreat, Wine Country Ukulele Festival, San Diego Ukulele Festival, Port Townsend Ukulele festival, Albuquerque Ukulele festival and many More. With his partner Heidi Swedberg, he has performed as an artist in residence at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix AZ, and performed at Children’s Music Festivals around the country, including concerts in Los Angeles, New York City, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and the Austin City Limits Festival. Heidi and Daniel were also featured performers at Music China in Shanghai in 2012.
As a guitarist, Daniel has toured the world playing flamenco guitar with Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra (1997-2000) as well as performing with the flamenco dance ensembles of Maria Benitez, Dance Espana, and Yjastros (1994-present), and 20 years playing rock-n-roll electric guitar for Celebrity Enterprises corporate entertainment (1994-present).
As a commissioned classical composer, Daniel has penned two string quartets for the Del Sol ensemble of San Francisco, and a four-hands piano piece. He has scored music for film, television and video.
In the field of recording he has won awards (Parent’s Choice NAPPA, NM Recording Arts, Fids and Kamalies) on both albums he collaborated with Heidi Swedberg and is a sought after producer and arranger. His own CD “After the Storm” is an award winning virtuosic performance of original compositions masterfully played on electric and flamenco guitar.
Daniel Ward graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in classical Guitar performance, and a minor in composition. His musical expertise includes Flamenco, jazz, pop and most styles of world music, along with the ability to compose and improvise within these styles. He is also a seasoned educator, and has 25 years experience teaching music to all ages. He is a consultant and music typographer for music method books, and writes as a columnist for Ukulele online magazines.
As a performer and a teacher, Daniel believes the Ukulele holds a strong place in music industry and music education as an expressive instrument that still remains accessible and approachable to all levels of students and professionals alike.
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!