Sandwiched between their recent one-week trip to Hawaii, and their impending excursion to Los Angeles, the Langley Ukulele Association has a little hometown fun on the books.
As is the case every summer for the past 15 years, the uke group is gearing up for one of its biggest events of the year, said president and senior B director Peter Luongo.
He’s referencing their summer ukulele camp, which runs Aug. 19 to 23 at Yorkson Creek Middle School, and it’s one of the key methods to introduce young people in Langley to the instrument and the association, Luongo said.
Langley Ukulele Ensemble is now in its 43rd year – 32 years under the direction of Luongo, and, for the past 10 under the direction of Peter’s son, Paul.
During the course of those 43 years, the group has developed a reputation at home and abroad for excellence in musical performance.
Luongo is known as the founder of the Langley Ukulele Association and former musical director of the internationally renowned ensemble.
He is one the world’s most experienced and preeminent ukulele teacher, now also directing an adult ensemble based out of the U.S.
Well, this month he’s again partnering with Paul and a few other LUA alumni to host the camp from Aug. 19 to 23.
It’s designed for about 60 students, and it’s a chance – through either a full-day or half-day programs – to introduce kids to the uke and the basics about performing and being part of the association, noted Luongo.
This year, the association is partnering with the Langley Arts Council to offer an option of enriched uke and bass education in the afternoon sessions, or alternatively an arts, crafts, and games component.
The week-long uke camp experience culminates with a concert for family.
Registration is $425 for the full-day and $300 for half. Registration and more information is available online at www.langleyukes.com/registration.
The funds raised will help off-set the cost of travel for senior A and B ensemble members to perform at the International Ukulele Festival in California in September, Luongo said.
“That event has an attendance of over a thousand ukulele enthusiasts from all around the U.S., Canada, and overseas,” said Luongo.
“ It attracts some of the greatest ukulele performers in the world, and Langley is headlining the main stage performance show, along with a young phenom from Taiwan named Feng-E,” he added, pretty psyched to be taking the kids there to perform.
