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Nanaimo Ukulele Festival offers learning, strumming, singing

June 4 event will be held at Trinity Catholic Church
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Liz DeBarros, left, will lead the Sing and Strum during the Nanaimo Ukulele Festival on June 4, while Carol Johns will facilitate two beginner workshops for the event. (Photos submitted)

After a two-year hiatus, the central Island’s ukulele community can once more play, laugh and learn together at the Nanaimo Ukulele Festival.

The one-day event this year, to be held on Saturday, June 4, at Trinity Catholic Church, will offer a choice of two workshops in the morning and two in the afternoon, followed by a sing and strum led by Liz Debarros.

Workshop instructor and committee member Carol Johns said this is the first time since the start of the pandemic that the festival has been held in-person. She said the last two events have been offered as online workshops through Zoom to keep people interested and engaged in the ukulele.

“It’s definitely a way to help yourself through something like a pandemic because, first of all, you have something to do – and then you also have something to practise. And you also connect with other people at the same time,” Johns said.

The two workshops offered will both be held by Johns, a James Hill Ukulele Initiative Level 3 certified instructor, as ‘comfortable beginner and beyond’ sessions.

A single workshop will cost $30, while both can be purchased for $50, with the sing and strum included for both.

Tickets for the festival must be purchased in advance through www.nanaimoukulelefestival.ca via PayPal, or by e-transfer to nanukefest@gmail.com. All participants to the festival will receive a face mask suitable for singing along, as well as a Nanaimo Ukulele Festival tote bag.

“Don’t forget to bring your ukulele, music stand and enthusiasm,” Johns said.

READ MORE: Nanaimo Ukulele Festival invites listeners to give instrument a try


mandy.moraes@nanaimobulletin.com

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Mandy Moraes

About the Author: Mandy Moraes

I joined Black Press Media in 2020 as a multimedia reporter for the Parksville Qualicum Beach News, and transferred to the News Bulletin in 2022
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