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Marianas Ukulele Festival kicks of this Saturday
Community stepping up to support festival
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- IT&E donates $500 cash to Marianas Ukulele Festival coordinator Larry Lee, center. (Contributed Photo)
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- David Burger of Burger, Comer, Magliari Certified Public Accountants, shakes hand with Marianas Ukulele Festival coordinator Larry Lee. Burger is also one of the donors to the festival. (Contributed Photo)
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- Employees of N15 Architects have their picture taken. The firm is a proud sponsor of the Marianas Ukulele Festival. (Contributed Photo)
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- Pacific Islands Club executive assistant Vicky Benavente hands over a cash donation to Larry Lee, ukulele instructor and coordinator for the Marianas Ukulele Festival, who is joined by his students, the Ukulele Jammerz, at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library. (Contributed Photo)
Taking place on Saturday from 12pm to 6pm at the Tipiyeew Cultural Village–Carolinian Utt on Beach Road Garapan, the festival is organized by the Marianas Ukulele Festival Association headed by Gordon Marciano and Larry Lee.
The event is free and open to the public and also features arts and craft and food booths. Raffle tickets will also be available for $5 with lots of possible prizes, including ukuleles.
Food vendors include Herman’s Bakery, Dela Cruz Pastries, Kinpachi Restaurant, Canton Restaurant, and Hula Girl.
Instructional clinics and educational presentations by master musicians will also be offered.
The festival will be highlighted by the performance of international ukulele champion Yuki Uchiumi. Popularly known as “JazzoomCafe,” he is Japan’s most established technical ukulele player. His finger tricks and “speed playing” techniques will amaze the audience.
Uchiumi was the MVP winner at the 2011 International Ukulele Competition held in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was featured in many local publications in Hawaii.
Aside from Uchiumi, master musicians and trending ukulele players both young and old will perform at the festival. These include Joe Limes, Lino Olopai, Felix Fitial, Gus Kaipat and The Voices of Olomwaay, Maluw Band, Ed Johnson and Alana’ia, Sunset Cruisers, Lali 4, Aunty Emi and the Ladies, Dan Laniyo, Frankie and China Boy, Saipan Community School Ukulele Band, Ukulele Jammerz, Out of the Ordinary, and Po’ohala (Debbie Winkfield/Larry Lee families.)
According to Lee, dozens of local businesses and organizations have shown strong support for the festival by contributing in-kind and cash donations.
The Marianas Ukulele Festival Association is a registered non-profit organization whose mission and focus is to promote and perpetuate ukulele music and heritage by bringing people of all ages together to share the love of ukulele music.
“This festival will help create an avenue for people of all cultures to share the island warmth and Hafa Dai Tirow spirit, present a free annual ukulele festival, and showcase various talents,” Lee said.
Cash sponsors are T Galleria DFS Saipan, IT&E, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, N15 Architects, Island Training & Solutions, Hula Girl, Robert T. Torres, Chong’s Corp., and the Marianas Visitors Authority.
In-kind sponsors include Tan Holdings Corp., Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Fiesta Resort and Spa, Kinpachi Restaurant, Mariana Resort and Spa, Hyatt Regency Saipan, KKMP Radio, Kano Resort, Pacific Development Inc., Saipan Apparel, Saipan Southern High School Manta Band, and Kanile’a Ukulele.
