Ukulele Band
WUMC Charge Conference Report 2026
The Wesley Ukulele Band continues to thrive under the leadership of Tina Urata and Becky Soffioto, co-leader, and a core group of musicians, Ted and Marilyn Hasegawa (bass) and Jane Wong. Barbara Hiura provides harmonies. Smiley Kai is our ever-important sound and technical supervisor and works extra long hours doing our gig set-ups and balances our sound production. The band has rehearsal practice the second Sunday of every month at the church.
At all our performances, we are thrilled to have hula dancers. The past year has been an exciting one doing outreach music ministry Assisted Living places, cultural festivals, and within our church proper as well.
2025
Hanging of the Greens (Dec. 6) at Wesley UMC: 12 performers and three Hula dancers with around 60 in attendance. The Keiki Band of 3 with Natalie, Arissa and Yuzuru performed.
Prime Timers Christmas Party (Dec. 12) at 4th St. Bowl:: 13 performers and two Hula dancers for about 50 people
Wesley Ukulele Band Christmas Party (Dec. 14) at 4th St. Bowl: 18 attended and played
Hawaiian Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) joint performance with the chancel choir at Wesley UMC: 10 performers and 2 Hula dancers with 125 in attendance.
2026
Cal-Nevada Annual Conference Asian Caucus Festival of Joy (Feb. 21) held to Wesley UMC: 13 performers, 4 dancers and three Keiki, with an attendance of 50. We had solo performances by May Serrano singing “Dahil Sa Iyo” a Filipino favorite and Jane Wong singing a Chinese song, “Moon Represents My Heart.”
Nikkei Matsuri (April 26) in San Francisco Japantown: 12 performers, 3 Hula dancers with 100 in attendance.
Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival (April 25) at the Quinlin Center at Cupertino Memorial Park; 12 performers and 4 Hula dancers with 45 in attendance
Tina’s 70th Birthday Party (May 2) at Obi Studios; with 13 performers, 7 Hula dancers with 100 in attendance.
San Francisco Soy and Tofu Festival (June 13) at St. Mary’s Cathedral: 5 performers and 5 Hula dancers with 75 in attendance.
WUB annual Picnic at Frank Bramhall Park (July 12): 17 band members and 4 Keiki.
Yu-Ai Kai event (Aug. 18): 10 performers, 4 Hula dancers with 12 in attendance
The Forum Assisted Living Complex (Sept. 16) 6 performers and 4 Hula dancers with an audience of 45
Villa Sereno Assisted Living Complex (Sept. 30) 8 performers and 3 Hula dancers with an audience of 70
“Na Leo Mokupuni ma Cupertino” Cupertino Community Hall (Oct. 3) 11 performers and 3 Hula dancers with an audience of 80
May and Albert Serrano’s 20th Anniversary Party, Oddfellows Hall in Cupertino (Oct. 18) 9 Performers and 3 Hula Dancers with an audience of 65
WUB Band Leads
Tina Urata (Band Leader)
Becky Soffioto (Co-leader)
Smiley Kai (Sound technician)
Ted Hasegawa (Music Consultants)
Marilyn Hasegawa (Bass and Music Consultants)
Jane Wong
Barbara Hiura
Mark Teagle
Members
Carole Ferro
Lynn Hori
Maya Isaka
Cheryl Koshiro
Cynthia Lorence
Ryan Miyahara
Mary Neinast
Toki Pagoulatos
Jake Shimada
Linda Shintaku
Earl Takenaka
Greg Tanaka
Barbara Tang
Jonathan Toh
Joanne Tong
Junko Urata
Richard Urata
Mariana Winoto
WUB Keiki Band with leaders, Tina Urata, Smiley Kai and Mark Teagle
Arissa
Natalie
Stuart
Yuzuru
Hula Dancers
Sheryl
Margaret
Lani
Cheryl Koshiro
May Serrano
Betsey
Tina Urata
Natalie
At all our performances, we are thrilled to have hula dancers. The past year has been an exciting one doing outreach music ministry Assisted Living places, cultural festivals, and within our church proper as well.
2025
Hanging of the Greens (Dec. 6) at Wesley UMC: 12 performers and three Hula dancers with around 60 in attendance. The Keiki Band of 3 with Natalie, Arissa and Yuzuru performed.
Prime Timers Christmas Party (Dec. 12) at 4th St. Bowl:: 13 performers and two Hula dancers for about 50 people
Wesley Ukulele Band Christmas Party (Dec. 14) at 4th St. Bowl: 18 attended and played
Hawaiian Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) joint performance with the chancel choir at Wesley UMC: 10 performers and 2 Hula dancers with 125 in attendance.
2026
Cal-Nevada Annual Conference Asian Caucus Festival of Joy (Feb. 21) held to Wesley UMC: 13 performers, 4 dancers and three Keiki, with an attendance of 50. We had solo performances by May Serrano singing “Dahil Sa Iyo” a Filipino favorite and Jane Wong singing a Chinese song, “Moon Represents My Heart.”
Nikkei Matsuri (April 26) in San Francisco Japantown: 12 performers, 3 Hula dancers with 100 in attendance.
Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival (April 25) at the Quinlin Center at Cupertino Memorial Park; 12 performers and 4 Hula dancers with 45 in attendance
Tina’s 70th Birthday Party (May 2) at Obi Studios; with 13 performers, 7 Hula dancers with 100 in attendance.
San Francisco Soy and Tofu Festival (June 13) at St. Mary’s Cathedral: 5 performers and 5 Hula dancers with 75 in attendance.
WUB annual Picnic at Frank Bramhall Park (July 12): 17 band members and 4 Keiki.
Yu-Ai Kai event (Aug. 18): 10 performers, 4 Hula dancers with 12 in attendance
The Forum Assisted Living Complex (Sept. 16) 6 performers and 4 Hula dancers with an audience of 45
Villa Sereno Assisted Living Complex (Sept. 30) 8 performers and 3 Hula dancers with an audience of 70
“Na Leo Mokupuni ma Cupertino” Cupertino Community Hall (Oct. 3) 11 performers and 3 Hula dancers with an audience of 80
May and Albert Serrano’s 20th Anniversary Party, Oddfellows Hall in Cupertino (Oct. 18) 9 Performers and 3 Hula Dancers with an audience of 65
WUB Band Leads
Tina Urata (Band Leader)
Becky Soffioto (Co-leader)
Smiley Kai (Sound technician)
Ted Hasegawa (Music Consultants)
Marilyn Hasegawa (Bass and Music Consultants)
Jane Wong
Barbara Hiura
Mark Teagle
Members
Carole Ferro
Lynn Hori
Maya Isaka
Cheryl Koshiro
Cynthia Lorence
Ryan Miyahara
Mary Neinast
Toki Pagoulatos
Jake Shimada
Linda Shintaku
Earl Takenaka
Greg Tanaka
Barbara Tang
Jonathan Toh
Joanne Tong
Junko Urata
Richard Urata
Mariana Winoto
WUB Keiki Band with leaders, Tina Urata, Smiley Kai and Mark Teagle
Arissa
Natalie
Stuart
Yuzuru
Hula Dancers
Sheryl
Margaret
Lani
Cheryl Koshiro
May Serrano
Betsey
Tina Urata
Natalie
Posted in Charge Conference 2026