Previous Story
Japanese ukuleles donated to Marianas festival
-
- KIWAYA Corp. president Kyoko Hara presents the company’s donation to JazzoomCafe, one of the special guest performers at this year’s Marianas Ukulele Festival. (Contributed Phoro)
-
- Yusuke Saito is donating four ukuleles to be raffled off at the Marianas Ukulele Festival on Saturday. (Contributed Photo)
One of Japan’s premier ukulele manufacturers, KIWAYA Corp., has donated ukuleles and various accessories to the 3rd Annual Marianas Ukulele Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 at the Garapan Fishing Base.
Founded in 1919, KIWAYA ukuleles are well known and highly sought after throughout Asia.
Yusuke Saito, a highly respected festival producer, promoter, and musician from Japan, also donated four ukuleles to the upcoming Marianas ukulele festival.
“It is a pleasure to support the Marianas Ukulele Festival and I am confident this year’s festival will be a great success,” said Saito. The donated ukuleles will be used as raffle prizes on the day of the event.
Other event partners include of the ukulele festival are the Marianas Visitors Authority, Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, T Galleria DFS, Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan, KKMP, Pacific Development Inc., Kinpachi Restaurant, Top Development Inc., IT&E, Island Training Solutions, Imperial Pacific International (CNMI), Burger Comer Magliari, Marianas Medical Center, Robert T. Torres Law Office, Serenti Hotel, Triple J Enterprises, Pacific Islands Club, Marianas Variety, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Dave’s Electronics, Saipan Apparel, Star Sands Plaza (I Love Saipan), Herman’s Modern Bakery, and R&M Printers.
The Marianas ukulele festival is a fun, family event featuring continuous live entertainment, local food and arts and crafts booths, ukulele workshops/demonstrations, raffle drawings and surprises. It is free and open to the public.
Several highly established ukulele performers from Asia will be featured, including JazzoomCafe, Mariko Uchiumi, Yusuke Saito, and Nanaco from Japan; Blues Lee, Vivian Kim and Ukulele Ensemble from Korea; and Vanessa Ding from Taiwan.
Local CNMI performers include the Saipan Community School, Alana’ia, Tata Lino Olopai and Ray Tebuteb, Sunset Cruisers, FESTPAC Warriors, Da Kine, Demalyn Pagarao, Jose Carreon and Juan Ichihara, Nick Sablan, and the Ukituki Band, among others.
Workshops are scheduled from 12pm to 2pm, and open mic sessions will also be available for spontaneous performances.
Any ukulele players/groups interested in performing at the festival should contact Larry Lee at marianasukefest@gmail.com or call 285-7127, or Gordon Marciano at 285-1195. Anyone interested in supporting the festival through cash or in-kind contributions should contact the same.
For more information, visit www.marianasukulelefestival.org. (PR)
