2024 ARTISTS

Aldrine Guerrero is an award winning musician, ‘ukulele player, and music teacher from the island of Kaua’i. In 2007, he co-founded the learning platform UkuleleUnderground.com, teaching the ‘ukulele to hundreds of thousands of students all over the world through live video instruction, tutorials, Play-Alongs, and in-person workshops. Since then, he has toured over 12 countries, released 4 albums, and his music has been featured in compilation albums, television, short films, and major motion pictures.  

Based in the heart of California’s sun-soaked Imperial Valley, Bernadette is an educator, YouTuber, and ukulele artist with a humble beginning uploading YouTube videos in her elementary music classroom in Okinawa, Japan. With a master's degree in education, a bachelor's degree in music, and a teaching credential, Bernadette has found her audience by creating content geared towards beginners yet easy for all ages to follow. 

Originally a Jazz Guitarist, Boris blended his knowledge of Jazz and thirty years of guitar experience with ukulele, bringing about a perfect marriage between his two passions, passionately exploring new possibilities on this small four-string instrument. Boris has performed and conducted masterclasses around the world and is an ambassador of Kala Ukuleles.

Cali Rose teaches, leads and writes the arrangements for her ukulele group, The CC Strummers, based in Culver City, California. She loves to sing, accompany herself on ukulele and piano, write songs and do her joyful thing, entertaining audiences big and small. Her shows deftly combines great vintage and popular songs with comedy, storytelling and audience participation.

Daniel is an accomplished musician, composer and educator who has become one of the country's top clinicians and performers on the ‘ukulele circuit’. Known for his command of Latin styles and right hand techniques, adapted from classical and flamenco guitar, Daniel has been a featured performer and workshop instructor at festivals across the country and, along with his partner Heidi Swedberg, was a featured performer at Music China in Shanghai in 2012.

Danilo's cultural contribution and singular musical style, based on unique techniques (of Mediterranean-Lucan origin) have won him numerous awards including the MEI award (Meeting of independent labels) of Faenza, Best Ukulele Musician at the 2019 International Ukulele Festival of Canada and the "Eleuke" world prize for best technique for electric ukulele "Fingers of Fury" in 2010.

When she was 5 years old Heidi received her first ukulele from the Hawaiian Easter bunny while living in Kailua, HI. She loves working with beginning and intermediate students of all ages, particularly adept at explaining complicated concepts in very simple terms. You'll get to see Heidi's smiling face all day as the Mistress of Ceremonies on the outdoor stage in Torino Plaza. 

Hi'ikua is a Na Hoku Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy) award-winning Hawaiian trio featuring Blake Leoiki-Haili on bass, Dr Kalehua Krug on rhythm guitar and Dr Kamuela Kimokeo on lead ukulele and guitar. Kamuela is the Director of the Hawai‘i Music Institute and heads the music program at Windward Community College.

Recognized as one of Hawaii’s most versatile musicians, Jeff Peterson is at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene today who has contributed to two Grammy Award-winning recordings and has been honored with thirteen Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in Hawaii. Jeff's online Ukulele Corner Academy is a robust resource for over 300 students from all over the world who come from extreme beginner to advanced backgrounds. 

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble is made up of 28 middle and high school students whose ages range from 12 to 18 years, with a rigorous performance schedule that includes as many as 80 concerts per year locally, regionally, and internationally. The ukulele program got its start in the Langley School District during the 1970’s when ukulele was incorporated as part of the music offerings in the Langley School District. 

Melanie Lawson Kareem grew up in a musical-loving, folk dancing family in Pasadena, CA. Melanie's proprietary teaching system, the “Melanie Method,” helps beginner students thrive and start strumming and singing the beloved songs of the “leisure generation” right away. Her Get Started Playing Ukulele on-line ukulele program of daily live lessons reaches a fun-loving community of strummers and singers stretching from coast to coast and crossing international borders

Peter is the founder of the Langley Ukulele Association and former Musical Director of the internationally renowned Langley Ukulele Ensemble. One the world’s most experienced and preeminent ukulele teachers, his accomplishments were documented in the award-winning film, The Mighty Uke. After spending over 30 years as a school administrator in the Music Education Department at the University of British Columbia, he currently directs adult performing ensembles in Canada and the U.S. and is a regular presenter at ukulele festivals across North America and Europe.

Under the title of '4stringboy' Sammy is an award winning ukulele virtuoso, combining ambient composition with a modern style of solo playing using harmonics and fingerstyle techniques.
A magician of harmonics who has been featured on 'The Ukulele Site' and 'Ukulele Underground' podcasts, Sammy is a Flight ukulele artist and a proud endorser of Ukelogic strings. His instagram weekly fingerstyle tutorials combine beautiful composition with fundamental technique and core skills necessary for improving players.

San Diego-based ukulele virtuoso Timmy Cruz made his ukulele festival debut in 2019 at the Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival and returns this year - after making his first appearance at the 2024 Berliner Ukulele Festival in Germany! 

"Victoria "Viggy" Kolasinski is your new favorite ukulele teacher from Long Island, New York who is taking social media by storm. As a digital educator and creative, Viggy posts ukulele covers and tutorials online for an audience of over 275,000 on Instagram and Tiktok. She has appeared at the Brooklyn Ukulele Fest, Ashokan Uke Fest, Midwest Ukulele and Harmonica Camp, and the Reno Ukulele Festival. At the 2022 International Ukulele Contest she won the very prestigious "Best Smile Prize." With that smile, she hopes to inspire a whole new generation of ukulele players to get strummin' and fingerpickin' with her fun and goofy personality.