Ukulele Band

Since its founding in 2004, the Wesley Ukulele Band has grown and changed but the continuity has been in its leadership with Tina Urata as the band leader, with Smiley Kai, our music and sound manager and Becky Soffiotto, as our music co-leader. Our membership has become a little smaller with a core of 25 ukulele musicians and five Hula Dancers.   In the past 22 years, WUB has become a familiar face around town, performing at a variety of venues bringing Hawaiian and Japanese music and Hula dancing to communities around the Bay Area.  In 2023, under the guidance of Tina, Smiley, and Mark Teagle began a Keiki (youth) addition to the band which now has 4 members.  They performed Easter Sunday, Family Camp, our 130th Anniversary, at the Scout event. This year, the WUB has presented our unique Wesley performance style at the following locales.

Dec. 7 –Hanging of the Greens at Wesley UMC we had 12 performers including 3 dancers and 2 Keiki, Natalie and Oliver. Attendance 50
Dec. 11—Villa Serena Assisted Living, their Christmas Party—10 performers including 2 dancers. Attendance 40
Dec. 13—Primetimer’s Christmas Party with 12 performers including 2 dancers Attendance 55
Dec. 24—Christmas Eve Hawaiian Style at Wesley UMC with 0 performers. Attendance 45
April 19—San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival with 14 performers, instrumentalists and
 dancers.  Attendance 200
April 20—Easter Sunday at Wesley UMC with two adults and Keiki (children)  from our Keiki
 group performing “It’ a Happy Day” and 7 WUB members performing “Hosana Nui Iesu”
with the the Wesley Church Choir and accompanist, Shane Cantanho. Attendance 185
April 26—Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival at the Quinlan Center with 19 performers including Hula dancers. Attendance 65
April 27—Nikkei Matsuri in San Jose Japantown on the Aloha Stage fronting our church with 22 performers including Hula dancers. Attendance 40
May 15—MidPenninsula Media performance of Sukiyaki with 7 band members.  This was a
unique experience as our recording went out publicly giving our outreach to a broader community of viewers.
May 17—Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Celebration at History Park in San
Jose with 19 performers including Hula dancers.  Attendance 60
June 8—Annual  WUB picnic and practice at Willow Street Frank Bramhall park in San Jose with 14 members of the band and 3-4 members of the Keiki band.
June 21—Music Around the World on the corner of 5th and Jackson Streets with 13 performers including Hula dancers.  Attendance 35
June 14—San Francisco’s Soy and Tofu Festiva at St. Mary’s Cathedral with 13 performers
including Hula dancers. Attendance 125
Aug. 20--The Forum in Cupertino, Memory Care Unit with 13 performers including Hula Dancers
Aug. 23—The Forum Assisted Living unit with 18 performers including Hula dancers.
Attendance 65
Aug. 27—Villa Serena Assisted Living place with 11 performers including Hula dancers.
Attendance 50
Sept. 28—Wesley UMC’s 130th Anniversary celebration at Wesley Church with 17
performers including Hula dancers and 2 from the Keiki Band performing “Wipe Out.”  Our rendition of Hukilau and a number from the audience participating including Rev. John Oda and Bishop Olewine.  Attendance 125
Oct. 16—Hearts and Minds Activity Center Performance with 11 participants including 4
dancers.  Attendance 60
Nov. 1—Scout Event at St. Victor’s Catholic Church with 12 Band members, 3 Keiki and 5 dancers. Attendance 100

WUB’s new banner

From time to time when our band is asked to perform at primarily Assisted Living and Memory Care places, we have been given an honorarium.  The money collected is given to the church and is put into the Music Ministry fund and managed by Kelli Martines.  Because we have a funding stream within the Music Ministry, an accounting is given below of this year’s income and expenses.

Income
Soy Festival                 $300
Cherry Blossom           $500
Villa Serena                 $200
Rancho San Antonio    $ 300
Total income   $1300

Expenses:
WUB Design and banner: $950

Balance:                                  $350

Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Hiura,
WUB member