Join us for a unique experience at the Denver UkeFest’s Ukulele Meditation Nature Walk! Take some steps into a serene place where music, nature (as much as we can get in Denver proper), and mindfulness converge to create an unforgettable hour of tranquility that will nourish your soul and calm your mind. We will begin with a stroll to an urban oasis on our way to a peaceful meditation session.
During our time together, we will connect with our inner self and the world around us by letting the gentle strumming of ukulele chords guide us into a state of blissful relaxation. As we bask in the serenity, feel life’s worries melt away, leaving us rejuvenated and ready to embrace the festivities of Ukefest. Let our melodies, meditation, and the great outdoors come together in perfect harmony as we unwind, recharge, and get ready for a day of fun and celebration at Ukefest!
Denver Uke Community
The Denver Uke Community is open to all ukulele players of any skill level. Held on the 3rd Saturday of every month at Swallow Hill (except during the summer), ukulele players get together and share songs in a supportive, group setting. For more info, please visit www.den-uke.com.
Jem Zornow
A Denver based musician and teacher who loves to mix genres and styles from across eras, Jem’s music is a blend of New Americana, folk pop, and jazz. A classically trained vocalist, his music is inspired by the classics and adapted to connect with all audiences. He evokes the vocal styles of Amos Lee, Van Morrison, and Frank Sinatra. He performs original music, as well as classics from the Great American Songbook and folk covers. Jem is a strong multi-instrumentalist, playing the piano, guitar, banjo and ukulele. His music moves, delights, and inspires audiences. Most importantly, he brings people together.
John Nash
John Nash is a ukulele artist creating original music out of Denvver, CO. Brandishing his own unique style on the instrument, he is constantly pushing the boundaries of what can be done on this instrument. He is also the founder and moderator for the website Ukulele Inspired, creating content highlighting the ukulele and creating a venue for all of the community to connect and be inspired.
Nash was born in the Philippines, raised in Alaska, and has lived in Seattle, Brazil, Hawaii and the Bay Area. He has been playing and teaching music for most of his life and in 2008 found the ukulele while living on Oahu. He immediately fell in love with its sweet sound, its capability, its portability, and most of all its innate ability to bring people together.
Chris McGarry
Chris McGarry has played a variety of roles throughout his musical career. McGarry served at Swallow Hill Music from 2007-2017 teaching the ukulele, writing curriculum and serving as the Director of Outreach and Instruction. Chris can currently be found at Swanson Elementary in Arvada teaching K-5 general music (with a classroom set of ukuleles, of course.) As a ukuleleist, Chris utilizes the ukulele as a tool to pull together his varied and often conflicting stylistic impulses. These influences include his formal music education, his work as a folk music historian and performer, his time in electrified bands and his experience as a songwriter steeped in Americana traditions. McGarry is currently completing his Master’s of Music Education (Kodály emphasis) at Colorado State University.
Daniella Katzir & Casey Cormier
Casey Cormier and Daniella Katzir have been performing together for ten years along the Colorado front range. They first met as ukulele teachers at Swallow Hill Music, found shared musical influences in their past and present, and soon were accompanying one another on gigs ranging from Americana to funk and jazz, plus a bit of traditional Hawaiian music. Their duo sets blend original works with a variety of creative covers, and are sure to fill their audiences with happiness and inspiration!
Bryan Tolentino
‘Ukulele player, Bryan Tolentino has been known, for the past forty plus years, as an accompanist who performed and continues to perform, locally and abroad with some of Hawaiʻi’s most well known and accomplished Hawaiian music artists.
Bryan’s recorded on over 60+ CD’s for other artists as well as compilations adding his unique “fairy dusting”, as he calls it. He says, “You must feel Hawaiian Music,” evident in his award winning recordings featured on Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy nominated CD’s which have also garnered many awards. He blends all that he’s learned, as an accompanist, into his own unique sound.
Bryan has performed and recorded with notable Hawaiian entertainers such as: Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Herb Ohta, Jr., Aunty Genoa Keawe, Pomaika‘i Lyman, Karen Keawehawai‘i, Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, Marlene Sai, Jerry Santos and Olomana, O’Brian Eselu, Nathan Aweau, Frank Hewett, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Sonny Lim, Jeff Peterson, Wailau Ryder, Kalei Gamiao, ‘Elua Kane, Owana Salazar, Weldon Kekauoha, Natalie Ai, ‘Iolani Kamau‘u, Napua Greig, Kuana Torres Kahele, Aaron Salā, Keao Costa, Blaine Kamalani Kia, NUE – Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu – Bryan, Kama Hopkins and Halehaku Seabury, The Side Order Band – with Del Beazley, Chris Kamaka and Asa Young, and more!
Bryan also worked with award winning hula hālau, engineers and producers. The noted halau includes: Nā Wai ‘Eha O Puna, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Hālau Maoli Pua, Ka Pā Hula O Kauanoe O Wa‘ahila, Keali‘ika’apunihonua Ke‘ena A‘o Hula, Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea and Kuhai Hālau O Kawaikapuokalani Pa Olapa Kahiko. Engineers and producers: Imua Garza, Dave Tucciarone, Milan Bertosa, Steve Kramer, Gaylord Holomalia, Flip McDiarmid, Shawn Pimental, Kip and Max Ebersbach, all among the best in the music business.
In May 2005, Bryan opened another musical chapter by releasing his solo CD “Ka ‘Ukulele Lele” that became a Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalist for Instrumental Album of the year.
Ten years later in April 2015, he released a duet CD, “Ukulele Friends”, with Herb Ohta Jr. that received a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for 2016 ‘Ukulele Album of the Year. In the Summer of 2016, he expanded his role by joining the Performing Arts Academy at Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama campus, educating young adults interested in learning and performing the ‘ukulele. He released a second duet CD with Herb Ohta Jr. ‘Ukulele Friends: The Sequel In December 2017, also winning a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award! NUE – Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu with Kama Hopkins and Halehaku Seabury released their CD “In the Heart of Paradise” on Dec. 30, 2021.
Bryan Tolentino continues to teach in person and online, sharing his love for the ‘ukulele through performances and workshops.
James Hill
An award-winning songwriter who “gives the ukulele its dignity back without ever taking himself too seriously” (Songlines), James Hill “proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that in the right hands the uke can be a formidable axe” (Ann Arbor News).
“If you thought James Hill was simply the ukulele wunderkind,” writes Penguin Eggs magazine, “his latest album will convince you that he is also a great songwriter.”
Produced by Joel Plaskett in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, The Old Silo invites you into a world of new beginnings, old regrets, beautiful women, horny geezers and gold diggers. Nominated for both JUNO and ECMA awards, the album cuts a winding path through Folk, Roots and Americana, “reflecting the musical maturity of Hill and Plaskett and delivering in every aspect of music-making.” (The Manitoban)
Ukulele 101
with Daniella Katzir
Welcome to the wonderful world of ukulele! In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of how to tune and play this four-string instrument from the island of Hawaii.
In this course we’ll learn to tune our ukuleles, play a handful of chords, strum easy songs, pluck simple melodies, and have fun with our four-string friends.
Bluegrass Ukulele
with Casey Cormier
What can sound like a banjo, guitar, and mandolin all in one? An ukulele, of course!
Learn to roll, chop, and boom-chick your way through bluegrass classics, adopt the etiquette of jam sessions, and take or pass a solo in this workshop that’ll have Bill Monroe dancing in his casket!
Clawhammer Ukulele
with Jem Zornow
“Clawhammer” is a traditional banjo technique that adds an energetic, driving rhythm to any song. Most people don’t realize it, but the high G string on a ukulele makes the instrument perfect for clawhammer playing.
Join Jem in this workshop to learn the basics of clawhammer ukulele, to add energy and spice to your bluegrass and folk playing.
The Art of Solo Ukulele
with James Hill
Playing melody, harmony and rhythm at the same time is the ukulele’s greatest magic trick.
Learn the secrets of chord-melody from James Hill with this fun workshop.
Fretboard Findings
with Bryan Tolentino
Use your whole neck – you paid for it, might as well! Get more color, vocabulary, and options on your whole uke in this workshop.
Navigate up and down the fretboard, use the chromatic scale logically and tastefully, and learn how to hear the I-V and I-IV-V chord progressions in various keys.
Solo Uke and Gypsy Jazz
with John Nash
Solo playing w/ ukulele can be such a rewarding endeavor on the ukulele. When learning to juggle melody, harmony and rhythm it can be challenging to hold this last, and most important element down.
In this workshop we’ll be exploring the Django Reinhardt classic Limehouse Blues and using it to learn some fundamental rhythms of gypsy jazz. At the same time we’ll learn how to weave in the melody while keeping our strumming pattern consistent and solid.
The Polyphonic Uke
with Chris McGarry
Polyphony in music occurs when two or more independent parts are performed simultaneously.
This workshop will explore various approaches to rounds, partner songs and more on the ukulele. Musicians in this workshop will learn to take simple melodies, and divide them into multiple parts – a perfect practice for small ukulele gatherings or clubs.
Musicians will learn solo polyphonic techniques as well for an additional challenge.
with Daniella Katzir
with Jem Zornow
