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.
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.
"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