We are pleased to announce that $105,000 in funding has been awarded from the Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF). CFA serves as the Region 12 Partner in the Arts for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA). Through this partnership, we execute the CSFF grant funding on behalf of the PCA in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties. 

“We greatly value our partnership with the PCA, as it allows us to concentrate on the arts and creative organizations within our region,” said CFA Program Officer Emily Wood. “These nonprofits contribute significantly to our communities, and we are pleased to have this funding source to aid their efforts.” 

The CSFF provides support for nonprofit art organizations and art programs within the six-county region. The grant offers $5,000 for the organizations to use in ways that will have the most significant impact on the people they serve. The award is flexible and can be used to meet a variety of needs, including administrative, programmatic, and project-related expenses. 

“It has long been established that a healthy arts community promotes economic growth for our region,” said CFA President Mike Kane. “The arts not only improve our quality of life, but also attract people who want to live in and support our community.”

Stephanie Pardee of Altoona surprised herself at a recent ukulele jam at ArtsAltoona. As she strummed and sang, her smiles increased.

“I wasn’t expecting to pick it up so quickly,” she said with a beaming smile. Pardee and friend Matt Cain of Altoona spent an hour “jamming” with Allegheny Ukulele Kollective members Mike Holzer of Altoona and Diane Albert of Bedford.

Holzer provided Pardee and Cain with brief instructions accompanied by a simple drawing of each note on a white board and demonstrated how to strum the four-string instrument.

Strolling the streets of downtown Hollidaysburg at a recent outdoor event, I encountered Melanie Ramsey and Claire Burk from the Allegheny Ukulele Kollective strumming some of their favorite pop, country and folk tunes...Holzer believes that the organization is important for the same reason. It is a good excuse for people to play an instrument within a collective of people. The ukulele tends to be a more social instrument than a lot of other instruments and does not have a lot of ego associated with it, he said.

Locals and visitors to State College had their choice of ways to welcome the new year Tuesday — from seeing art created out of ice to learning to play the ukulele.

Mike Holzer – President, and Chief Ukulele Evangelist & Louise Troxell – Secretary, and Song Master Extraordinaire with The Allegheny Ukulele Kollective (or Allegheny Ukes) is a Ukulele enthusiast club based in the Altoona-State College, PA region. The Allegheny Ukes have existed in various incarnations since 2010 where we jammed on college campuses, the local YMCA, and in cafes. They welcome players of all abilities and of all ages!

For the final episode in this special series, I sat down and talked to Mike Holzer, the chief ukulele evangelist of the Allegheny Ukulele Kollective and Festival Director of the Allegheny Ukulele Soiree. Make sure you get your tickets soon for next year’s. They’ll go on sale around October.

AUSS no. 4 features a Steel City Ukes native! Amber Rozel is a teacher and performer that you may not have heard of, unless you’re from Pittsburgh, PA. She’s also a classmate of mine from the James Hill Ukulele Initiative in Toronto. She may be the least famous guest I’ve had on the show, but it’s definitely one of my favorite conversations!

We talked about teaching tips, playing past the 3rd fret, practice schedules, and so much more. The saddle we were talking about is called a compensated saddle.

Here’s 3 of 5 from the Allegheny Ukulele Soiree! Today’s episode is with Danielle Ate the Sandwich.

This is the second installment of a special uke fest series I’m putting out as quickly as I can. These episodes were all recorded on April 21, 2018 in Altoona, PA. In today’s episode I sat down with Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel.

Springtime in the Alleghenies sounds like the title to a Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald musical from the 1940s, but in reality it’s the season and location for the annual Allegheny Ukulele Soirée.