Yes, there really is an orchestra full of ukuleles. And yes, you can be a part of it.
Come experience the thrill of
Ukuleles All Day & Night
Our Spring World Tour is Nigh
Tickets for Lakewood start at $16 (in person at the box office).
Start here for orchestra information:
If you're looking for the New Mexico group, go HERE, otherwise...
Grab your ukulele and come play with the world's greatest band ever in history. Or go buy one, take an intro class at Lakewood Cultural Center, and then come join us. We will teach you what you need to know. You'll meet fascinating and wonderful people. You'll have fun (you may cry a little). By the end of the season you'll be the greatest rawk star you know (as long as your social circle isn't too big).
We have two seasons, fall and spring. Our conductor picks a theme, our members and conductors write never-before-heard orchestral arrangements, and the rest of us learn and practice those songs in preparation for our concerts. The orchestral sounds come from different types of ukuleles: high g (the most common uke tuning); low g (for the rebels among us); baritones (two strings short of a guitar); and bass (there's one in every crowd. But just one.)
At the same time, some people work on other songs that fit the theme either as solo acts or in small groups (aka pods). All this work leads up to our semi-annual world tour, which is two shows long. We play for family and friends and other people who are curious about what a ukulele orchestra might actually sound like.
If this sounds like the kind of weird fun you've been looking for, join us by sending Kari Pokorny an email.
Spring 2025: Light & Dark
As Cole Porter said, "Night and day, you are the one." The theme for this spring is the contrast between sun and moon, night and day, light and dark. As usual, our musical selections are all original arrangements created by our members. Rehearsals start January 6 and meet every Monday until our concerts in early May.
Concert Dates.
Saturday, May 3, 2024 at 2 pm (Free!)
- Historic Grant Avenue
- 216 South Grant Street, Denver, CO 80209
- On street parking. Limited access for mobility impaired.
Tuesday, May 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm
- Lakewood Cultural Center
- 470 S Allison Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80226
- Garage parking. Full mobility access.
- Get tickets here (or save $4 each by going to the box office)
Orchestra Members: Rehearsal links for each week will be posted on the member's page.
Orchestra Mission
Rocky Mountain Ukulele Orchestra is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to arranging a diverse rehearsed music repertoire for solo and ensemble performance in an educational atmosphere. We promote introductory and advanced music development using the ukulele as our principal instrument. We nurture beginning ukulele players as well as composers, advanced performers, and teachers, and we actively encourage community involvement to promote music education for everyone.
Thanks
The Rocky Mountain Ukulele Orchestra thanks Jim Olson (the dude with the vision to give this a try way back in 2011 when ukulele wasn't hip), Kelly Graham, Susan Martin, Nathalie Renfroe, Tim Hoffman, John Jungerberg and the rest of the staff with the City of Lakewood's Heritage, Culture and the Arts division from the old days and the new. They've helped us with a place to call home, creating a wonderful environment for teaching and learning music. As we've grown, we've enjoyed and appreciated the staffs at Washington Heights, Lakewood Cultural Center, Clements Community Center, Historic Grant Avenue, and Green Mountain United Methodist church. A lot of people have tolerated us over the years ... thank you!