UkeFest

Artistic Directors

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer

Marcy Marxer is a GRAMMY Award winning multi-instrumentalist who has been teaching ukulele since 1986. Her “Ukulele For Kids” online courses have brought up a few generations of young ukulele players. She has directed a seniors uke orchestra, taught at prominent Uke and Music Camps and is co-artistic director of Strathmore’s UkeFest. Marcy specializes in chord melody, swing and jazz uke, but plays a bit of everything! She also studied with the grand master of vaudeville, Roy Smeck. Her forte as a social music conductor is only rivaled by her virtuosity on over 20 instruments. Marcy teaches online through www.pegheadnation.com,  www.truefire.com and www.homespun.com. 

Cathy Fink is a GRAMMY Award winning multi-instrumentalist and co-artistic director of Strathmore’s UkeFest with Marcy Marxer. She loves teaching all levels and has created a series of courses on playing Clawhammer Ukulele, kin to the old-time banjo style. Cathy has taught at countless music camps including Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Midwest Ukefest, The Augusta Workshops, and Palm Springs Ukefest. Cathy & Marcy released two duo recordings of all ukulele music, “Rockin’ The Uke” and “Wahoo.” They have released a total of fifty albums between them and over 50 instructional courses on ukulele, banjo, guitar, mandolin, harmony singing, and even yodeling. Her online instruction is available at www.truefire.com, www.homespun.com, and www.pegheadnation.com. She has written numerous articles for Ukulele Magazine.  

Herb Ohta, Jr.

As a teacher, composer, recording artist, entertainer, and producer, Herb Ohta, Jr. solidly establishes himself in the company of musicians who promote our Hawaiian instrument in the music landscape today. It is Herb’s goal to share the beauty of Hawai’i’s music, its culture, and the ‘ukulele to people all over the world. Herb has performed throughout the state of Hawaii and has traveled overseas to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, The United Kingdom, and the mainland USA.

Neal Chin

Award winning artist and Maui, HI native Neal Chin, has been both an ‘ukulele educator and performer over the course of his musical career of 19 years. His clear and direct enthusiasm for music has come to life in countless workshops, concerts, and private instruction. While his heart is in jazz, Neal has played with many musicians of different genres including Hawaiian, folk, rock, and hip-hop. His contribution to the collective The Akira Project, won his first Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award in 2014 before moving up to the Pacific Northwest. Since then, he has been nominated for the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for ‘Ukulele Album of the Year two years consecutively for ‘Ukulele Paintings and The Spotless Mind in 2017 & 2018, started his own ‘ukulele practice in the Pacific Northwest, and has toured from Vancouver BC to New York to his home state, Hawai’i. Neal currently lives, teaches, and performs in Seattle, WA.

Lisa Webb and Bob Tigert

Lisa Webb and Bob Tigert began playing together a little over 3 years ago, with an 'eclectic" catalog of original country, jazz, folk, and rock'n'roll songs and with covers that might take a minute to recognize ("Dixie Chicken" on ukuleles? Well. why not?). They have released 3 albums in 2 years, PLUS produced and played on an all-ukulele 

Christmas CD; and they have played concerts and festivals across the United States, Mexico and Europe (they headlined the Vienna Ukulele Nights festival in August 2024, as part of an "11 festivals in 12 months" run).   

Maureen Andary

Maureen Andary is an award-winning local musician. She’s taught Ukulele for 18 years and is Executive Director of School of Musical Traditions, running monthly strum alongs and uke classes. A 2025 Fellow with DC Commission, past Strathmore Artist in Residence (The Sweater Set) & winner of Washington Area Music Awards, Maureen is a songwriter with a Creative Writing degree from NYU. When not performing at the Birchmere or other local haunts, she is a cantor at several churches. She loves how accessible and lighthearted the ukulele is and is grateful to join Strathmore’s 2026 Ukefest!

Ben Hassenger

Ben Hassenger’s musical career began in the early 1970s when he was arrested for playing “Smoke on the Water” on accordion and singing in animal sounds in the cafeteria at Lansing (MI) Community College. It was the start of something special, for sure! In 2009, on a trip to Hawaii, Ben stumbled upon Roy Sakuma’s legendary “Ukulele Festival Hawaii” and was captivated by the diminutive but dynamic instrument and the communal aloha spirit of the people playing it. His life changed that day. 

 
He is now well-known as the “Ukulele Ambassador of Michigan”, teaching students of all ages in schools, libraries, senior centers, and other community venues. In addition, Ben is the founder of Mighty Uke Day (MI), Midwest Uke & Harmonica Camp (OH), and Uketoberfest at Interlochen (MI) as well as the artistic director of the Ashokan Ukulele Weekend (NY). He co-founded the Lansing Area Ukulele Group (LAUGH) and established the Music is the Foundation 501(c)(3) to help bring the joy of the ukulele to Michigan classrooms and communities. He performs solo and as a member of The Ukulele Kings and is also a prolific songwriter, with two of his songs about the Detroit Tigers enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. www.benhassenger.com