2025 ARTISTS

Sponsored by Ohana Ukuleles 

Abe Lagrimas, Jr. is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, and author who plays drums, vibraphone, and ukulele professionally. A Berklee graduate and multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner, he’s released albums in the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, and tours worldwide regularly as an Ohana artist.

Our emcee, Ben Hassenger, is a music facilitator for special education, ukulele teacher in Michigan schools, and co-founder of the Lansing Area Ukulele Group. He organizes Mighty Uke Day, Interlochen’s Uketoberfest, and Midwest Uke Camp, and is an official Ohana Ukulele Teaching Artist.

Based in California’s Imperial Valley, Bernadette Mata is an educator, YouTuber, and ukulele artist who started by sharing videos from her elementary music classroom in Okinawa, Japan. With a master’s in education, a bachelor’s in music, and a teaching credential, she creates beginner-friendly content that’s accessible for all ages.

Two-Time GRAMMY® Award Winners, Cathy & Marcy are master musicians with a career spanning over 35 years. Their superb harmonies are backed by instrumental virtuosity on the guitar, five-string banjo, ukulele, mandolin, cello-banjo, and more; their repertoire ranges from classic country to western swing, gypsy jazz to bluegrass, old-time string band to contemporary folk (including some original gems).

Supported by Kanile'a Ukulele & Guitar

Craig & Sarah are world-traveling performing artists, inspiring teachers, and visionary event organizers. For over 15 years, they’ve headlined ukulele festivals and events worldwide and their dedication to the global ukulele community is unmatched, leading to the creation of the very first free online ukulele festival and free livestream workshops, connecting players everywhere through music.

Supported by Koaloha Ukulele 

Keʻolu — Hiʻilani Asing, Krystal Mokuahi, and Cory Mau — is a dynamic trio whose harmonies bridge traditional Hawaiian and contemporary styles, blending island classics with hits from the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond. "`Olu": Pleasant, comforting, evoking feelings of nostalgia. This young trio strives to capture those feelings in every song they s.

Sponsored by Flight Ukuleles With roots in multi-instrumentalism and guitar, Spanish conservatory graduate Dani Usero brings pop, rock, classical, and flamenco to the ukulele. His unique style, undeniable talent, and contagious on-stage passion showcase just how far the instrument can go.

With soft, lilting vocals and a blend of honesty and wit, Danielle Ate the Sandwich (Danielle Anderson) writes songs for life’s biggest and smallest moments. She’s opened for Mumford & Sons, Jake Shimabukuro, and composed the soundtrack for the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson.

Kimo Hussey, one of Hawaii’s leading ukulele players and instructors, travels the world performing, teaching, and sharing his love for the instrument. He emphasizes that a quality ukulele can transform the experience for both player and audience.

The Legacy Ukulele Ensemble, led by acclaimed teacher Peter Luongo, brings together adult players from the U.S. and Canada. They focus on music literacy and skill-building, performing a diverse repertoire—from Hawaiian to Classical, Folk, Rock, and Country—all memorized with no music stands on stage.

Melanie Lawson Kareem, raised in a musical, folk-dancing family in Pasadena, CA, developed the “Melanie Method” to help beginners quickly start strumming and singing classic leisure-generation songs. Her online program offers daily live lessons to a vibrant community of ukulele players across the U.S. and beyond.

Peter Luongo, founder of the Langley Ukulele Association and former Musical Director of the acclaimed Langley Ukulele Ensemble, is one of the world’s leading ukulele teachers. Featured in the award-winning film The Mighty Uke, he spent 30+ years in music education at the University of British Columbia and now directs adult ensembles across Canada and the U.S., regularly presenting at ukulele festivals worldwide.