2024

Ben Hassenger's musical career began in the early 1970s when he was arrested for playing “Smoke on the Water” on accordion and singing in animal sounds in the cafeteria at Lansing Community College. It was the start of something special, for sure! In 2009, on a trip to Hawaii, Ben stumbled upon Roy Sakuma’s legendary “Ukulele Festival Hawaii” and was captivated by the diminutive but dynamic instrument and the communal aloha spirit of the people playing it. His life changed that day.

The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective is a Ukulele enthusiast club based in the Altoona-State College, PA region. The Allegheny Ukes have existed in various incarnations since 2010 where we jammed on college campuses, the local YMCA, and in cafes. The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We have a Jam nearly every Sunday of every month.

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.

Racheal Houghton began to explore her love of music many moons ago playing clarinet and saxophone for concert, marching, and jazz band ensemble. Racheal fell in love with the ukulele in 2017 buying her first Kala ukulele at a gift shop while on vacation at the outer banks in NC and has played every day since! Currently she loves to volunteer for the local Office of the aging leading “Sing a Longs for Seniors” and the “Ukulele Strumalong at the Poughkeepsie,NY library district.

The Arc of Altoona Ukulele Club is small but might! We play and sing together every other Tuesday, and we rejoice in finding songs that give maximum fun while using the fewest chords. 

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.

Amber is a member of the Steel City Ukuleles in Pittsburgh, PA and Assistant Director of the Allegeny Ukulele Soirée.

The Steel City Ukes Little Band is an ensemble made up of members of the Steel City Ukes. 

Debi first saw Hawaiian dance (hula) in the late seventies. I loved the variety of dances that the girls did and how graceful they were. I never dreamed I would be dancing with them but one time I saw them dancing while sitting on the floor and that was it! If you can sit and dance, I want to try it!

Melissa Nannen has been creating music since the age of 5 through a variety of means and finally found her perfect instrument in the ukulele during a cold, snowy winter in 2014.  She has been writing original songs since she was 15 on her guitar, but found the ukulele took her songwriting and playing abilities into uncharted territory. 

A Vaudeville inspired act, Mim combines elements of circus, novelty, and forgotten favorites! Expect the unexpected! Her show is a high-energy, smile inducing set that takes the audience along on a musical journey that will have them laughing and singing along! She always brings something new to the stage with a fresh group of songs, jokes, and tricks every season. The audience helps Mim’s dreams become a reality as they participate as her own personal back up singers.

Rachel Manke began playing the uke in 1999, in preparation of Y2K, when we were all supposed to become nomads following a complete technology meltdown. Well, alright, that was silly. Still, it turned out to be a good decision.

Hello, it's me...The Ukulele Teacher! 

Back in 2011 I started making YouTube videos on my old iPhone 3 as a joke to pass the time. Over a decade later I'm still making videos - but I now have over 1.4 million subscribers, have worked with the likes of Barclaycard and McDonald's, recorded with Mark Ronson at Abbey Road Studios, been invited to the Brit Awards, and wrote a song about tuna sandwiches for Dick n Dom. 

Curt Sheller's primary focus since 2003 has been performing jazz and contemporary music using the ukulele as his principal instrument, as well as presenting workshops and performing at various ukulele festivals throughout the year. 

Ray Cygrymus has taught elementary school music for over thirty years, most recently specializing in ukulele instruction in the classroom. He has lived in the Pittsburgh area his entire life, and attended Duquesne University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, with an emphasis on voice. 

Chrissy is an international performer and Kanile'a Ukulele endorsed artist, singer/songwriter, film composer, and educator. She has headlined festivals including the Melbourne Ukulele Festival and The Gaithersburg Ukulele Festival. She has scored the music for two award-winning feature films: Highest Point (with Bernard De La Cour) and With Flying Colours (with Liam Fox O’Brien). 

Award winning artist and Maui, HI native Neal Chin, has been both an ‘ukulele educator and performer over the course of his musical career of 19 years. His clear and direct enthusiasm for music has come to life in countless workshops, concerts, and private instruction. While his heart is in jazz, Neal has played with many musicians of different genres including Hawaiian, folk, rock, and hip-hop.