She teaches music to countless children, adolescents, teens, adults and seniors, leading them from being music consumers to music creators, and she does it with the ukulele.

Karen Maxson

Submitted to The Springfield Regional Arts Council in support of Karen Maxson's nomination for the 2023 Arts Ambassador "Ozzie" Award.

What follows is a summary of her efforts during 2022-2023 to nurture and sustain the arts community by teaching, directing, and performing ukulele music in Springfield, Missouri and beyond.

INTRODUCTION

Teacher

Ukulele Classes & Workshops

2022-2023

Through a variety of classes, workshops and festivals,

Karen taught 557 people of all ages and abilities

how to play the ukulele this year.

Saint Ann's Catholic Church, Carthage, MO: Weekly bilingual (Spanish/English)

ukulele instruction for 16 Hispanic adults and children. September-November 2023.


Tampa Bay Ukulele Festival, Tampa Bay, FL: Ukulele Workshop Instructor for

250 participants. Nov. 4-7, 2022.


Dayspring Christian School, Springfield, MO: Taught two daily ukulele music classes

to 45 students in the 9th and 10th grades. Jan. 4-Feb. 17, 2023.


Ukulele Gent, online: Greg Gent of the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society hosts a

weekly online play-along and group lesson featuring ukulele artists from around the

world. Karen was the featured artist and instructor for 65 participants. Jan. 25, 2023.


Gaithersburg Ukulele Festival, Gaithersburg, MD: Ukulele Workshop Instructor

for 104 participants. March 14-20, 2023.


Planet Unity Festival, Springfield, MO: Ukulele workshop for 16 teens and adults

as part of the Earth Day celebration at Unity of Springfield. April 22, 2023


Route 66 Red Carpet Festival, Pontiac, IL: Ukulele workshop for 21 teens and adults

as part of the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival. The participants later gave a

concert at the festival. May 6, 2023.


Daniel Boone Public Library, Columbia, MO: Ukulele workshop for 20 teens and adults.

June 15, 2023.


Springfield-Greene County Summer Reading Program, Springfield, MO: Ukulele

Workshop at The Library Center for 20 teens and adults. July 6, 2023.


A group of new ukulele players

in Pontiac, IL

Ready for students! Rick Maxson with

librarian Sarah Howard.

Daniel Boone Public Library,

Columbia, MO

Tablature Notation workshop at

Tampa Bay Ukulele Festival, with 150 students!

Tampa Bay, FL

Dayspring Christian School

Spring semester 2023

Springfield, MO

Ukulele Ensemble workshop

Gaithersburg UkeFest

Gaithersburg, MD

Ukulele class, all ages.

St. Ann's Catholic Church

Carthage, MO

"My goal when I opened the academy was to be uke-centric. The ukulele isn't just a mini guitar. There are techniques to learn specific to the size, sound and strings of the ukulele."

Karen is the only ukulele instructor in Southwest Missouri certified by the James Hill Ukulele Initiative,* a program built on engaging and proven pedagogy, solid curriculum and access to a network of talented colleagues and world-class teachers. Karen is the founder and owner of the Ukulele Academy of the Ozarks, LLC,

with 10-15 students of all ages. Music theory, ukulele history, and performance technique is incorporated into personalized instruction specific to the ukulele. Students have the opportunity to perform in two recitals each year.


*https://www.uketropolis.com/jhui


Leader

The Queen City Ukulele Club

The Queen City Ukulele Club (QCUC) was established in October 2013.

The club meets on the first Sunday of each month, 3-4:30 p.m.,

at Ernie Williamson Music (formerly Springfield Music)

in Springfield, MO.


Karen manages and directs the club, which averages 25 people

of all ages and abilities who meet to strum and sing. Karen curates

the club’s social media, plans the meetings, creates music charts,

and leads the uke jam. She has held this position for 10 years.


QCUC is free but members make voluntary contributions

each month that help fund club activities, such as

parades and social gatherings.


In the past year, club members were in the Birthplace of Route 66

Festival parade and the Christmas and St. Patrick's Day parades.

A group of club members also performed at the Greater Springfield

Farmers' Market. Club members also traveled to Overland Park, KS

for a concert by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.


When QCUC member Brian Maloney expressed interest in leading

a second uke jam each month, Karen helped him organize

the meeting and continues to assist with social media notifications

and providing a file of the music for club members via email

and social media.

Floral line element


Birthplace of Route 66 Parade, 08/11/’23


Springfield Ukestra

Karen is founder and director of the Springfield Ukestra, an ensemble of local ukulele players seeking a higher level of musical mastery and performance. The group, created in September 2022, meets weekly for rehearsal and at other times for sectionals. Its debut was at the Ukulele Academy of the Ozarks' fall recital in November 2022, where they played "Ode to Joy," by Ludwig von Beethoven. At the Academy's spring recital in May 2023, the Ukestra played Pachelbel's Canon in D (in the key of C, actually), and two members of the group sang "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" by John Prine, accompanied instrumentally by their colleagues.


Also at the spring recital, young Academy students (ages 10 and 11) were joined by members of the Ukestra for an abridged version of "Ode to Joy," a multigenerational performance giving the younger students the opportunity to experience the feel of playing with an ensemble.


The Ukestra is open to all ages and abilities.


"Ode to Joy"

Recital, November 2022

Springfield Ukestra

"Star Wars Main Theme"

Rehearsal, August 15, 2023

Springfield Ukestra

Performer

Uke 66

Karen and Rick Maxson form the core of Uke 66, a ukulele band based in Springfield, MO. They play for audiences in the Midwest, on the West Coast, in Japan, Mexico, and Hawaii, where they were awarded first place in Group and Solo categories and “Best Original Song” at the International `Ukulele Contest (2019 & 2020). They play originals and covers, from Vintage Hawaiian to Jazz, Swing, Blues, and Pop. As Uke 66, Karen and Rick play for festivals, community gatherings, corporate events, private events, and care facilities. Their hope is to increase awareness and appreciation for the ukulele through their music.

Uke 66 at Millsap Farm Pizza Night

Unapologetically Ukulele

With Kanile`a ukulele founder Joe Souza

after winning the "Best Group" award

at the International `Ukulele Contest

January 2020, Honolulu, HI

Festival of Ciudades Hermanas

Tlaquepaque, Mexico

May 2019

Summer Festival, Isesaki, Japan, August 2017

Imagine Concert

Historic Gillioz Theatre

December 2022

City Sister Festival with Tlaquepaque Mayor Maria Elena Limón Garcia

May 2023

Uke 66 Performances

2022-2023

ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVALS

Fiesta Hispaña Arts and Culture Festival, Springfield, MO: AcompañArte Cultural Center. Sept. 9, 2022.


Fifth Annual Rockin’ Roll Bike and Music Festival, Springfield, MO: Oct. 8, 2022.


Tampa Bay Ukulele Festival, Tampa Bay, FL: FeaturedArtist. Nov. 4-7, 2022.


Gaithersburg Ukulele Festival, Gaithersburg, MD: Featured Artist. March 14-20, 2023.


Queen City Shout, Springfield, MO: Annual Music, Film, and Art festival showcasing local, regional, and national artists. March 25, 2023.


Springfield Ambassador to Tlaquepaque, Mexico, Tlaquepaque, MX: Represent Springfield at a Sister Cities Festival. Featured ukulele artist and ambassador.

May 10-14, 2023.


Springfield ArtsFest, Springfield, MO: Performer. May 8, 2023.


West Plains Music Festival, West Plains, MO: Performer at the Mike Davis Custom Guitar and Ukulele booth. June 2, 2023.


Birthplace of Route 66 Festival Pre-Parade and Party, Springfield, MO: Performed songs from the heyday of Route 66. Aug. 11, 2023.


Monett Repurposed Faire Festival, Monett, MO: Performers. Aug. 26, 2023.

COMMUNITY CONCERTS

Imagine Concert, Springfield, MO: Celebrating the life and music of John Lennon

and the Beatles at the historic Gillioz Theatre. Ukulele entertainment. Dec. 3, 2022.


Ozarks Literacy Council, Public Poetry Reading, Springfield MO: Ukulele entertainment between readings. April 14, 2023.


Unity Day, Springfield, MO: Performers at the Earth Day Festival at Unity of Springfield. April 22, 2023.


Daniel Boone Public Library, Columbia, MO: Concert as part of the Summer Reading Program. June 15, 2023.


Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Springfield MO: Featured entertainment for “Wednesday Concerts at Noon in Founders Park." May 3, 2023.


Swinging Bridges Festival, Pontiac, IL: Concert as part of the Route 66 Red Carpet

Festival. May 6-7, 2023.


Millsap Farm Pizza Night, Springfield, MO: Performers. July 1, 2023.


Springfield-Greene County Library, Willard, MO: Concert as part of the Summer

Reading Program. July 8, 2023.


Millsap Farm Pizza Night, Springfield, MO: Performers. Aug. 3, 2023.

CORPORATE EVENTS

Care 2 Learn Benefit, Ozark, MO: Concert. Oct. 1, 2022.


Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Grand Opening: Hawaiian ukulele entertainment.

Kansas City, MO Oct. 18, 2022; Edwardsville, IL Oct. 24, 2022; North Kansas City, MO Dec. 12, 2022; Springdale, AR May 15, 2023; Owasso, OK June 26, 2023; Davenport, IA July 28-30, 2023.


Hickory Hills Country Club Christmas Party, Springfield, MO: Ukulele Christmas music. Dec. 1, 2023.


Child Protection Center, LLC, Kansas City, MO: Ukulele Christmas music.

Dec. 1-2, 2022.


Corporate Christmas Party, Kansas City, MO: Ukulele Christmas music. Dec. 14, 2023.


Horizons Summer Luau BBQ, Columbia, MO: Luau entertainment.

June 6, 2023.


Grizzly Industrial, Springfield, MO: Mike Davis Luthier Demonstration, ukulele demonstration and performance. June 15, 2023.


Springfield’s Best Annual Meeting and Luau, Springfield, MO: Luau entertainment.

June 17, 2023.


KLOR 10, Springfield, MO: Ukulele entertainment for National Hawaii Day. July 5, 2023.


CARE FACILITIES

The Waterford at Irongate, Springfield, MO: Bluegrass party. Oct. 7, 2022.


Wexford Place Senior Assisted Living, Kansas City, MO: Christmas entertainment.

Dec. 2, 2022.


TNC Community, Lawrence, KS: Christmas entertainment. Dec. 20, 2022.


Spring Valley Rehabilitation, Springfield, MO: Ukulele entertainment. May 18, 2023.


Wexford Place Senior Assisted Living, Kansas City, MO: Luau entertainment.

June 23, 2023.


Warrensburg Veterans Home, Warrensburg, MO: Luau entertainment.

June 28 and Aug. 22, 2023.


Holiday at Cambridge Assisted Living, Springfield, MO: Luau entertainment.

Aug. 2, 2023.


Springfield Rehabitation and Care, Springfield, MO: Luau entertainment.

Aug. 25, 2023.

Text Separator Isolated Line with Elegant Ornament

"When somebody in the arts community can make people not just appreciate it but become a part of it, that's what an ambassador is. "


~ Gary Whitaker

Karen Maxson

417-693-4604

karenmaxson@outlook.com