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!