UPDATES for the MARCH 14th Performance – Everyone is invited for St. Patrick’s Day.
You’re invited to a performance of the Holiday Ukulele Chorus featuring music for St Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 14, at 1:30PM at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E Holly Street. The Senior Center has offered free admission for friends of the cast, but RSVP is required, so please DM me with the number of people attending so we can get you on the list. This will be a fun show featuring audience participation and big sing along. Hope to see you there!
The UPDATES FOR FEBRUARY 26, 2026 CAN BE DOWNLOADED BELOW.
Note that the chord charts might be missing items that were given to you during rehearsals or sent from Pam. Contact her if you are missing anything.
UPDATED FEBRUARY 23, 2026
There will be another rehearsal on SUNDAY, MARCH 1 at 2PM at the Japanese Cultural Institute, 595 Lincoln Ave in Pasadena. We will run through the songs we didn’t get to on Saturday, as well as further refine the songs. Please let me know whether or not you will attend so we know how many to set up for. Please come if you can. Our first show is on Tuesday, March 3 at the Joslyn Center in Burbank.
We are still working on the set list, and the chart for song #5 Irish Washerwoman. They will be available soon. In the meantime, if you did not receive the revised chart for #15, Mairi’s Wedding at the rehearsal, or if you need it electronically, it can be downloaded below in a revised setlist.
UPDATED FEBRUARY 6, 2026
On Behalf of Corey Brendel…
It’s that time of year again. Break out the green…
Hi all –
TOPIC ONE:
Did you know I’m an introvert? These shows exhaust me, but I’ve decided they are important. I wish to give speaking or singing time to interested persons.
THE ONLY thing that can disqualify you is if you cannot be heard. Staying on the mic is a must. To be blunt and somewhat repetitive for the sake of clarity, the Director reserves the right to replace people who cannot be heard.
Here are the opportunities:
- DEAR OLD DONEGAL
- I’M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
- LOOK TO THE RAINBOW (male and female parts)
- MacNAMARA’S BAND
- MY WILD IRISH ROSE
- THAT’S AN IRISH LULLABY (aka TOO RAH LOO RAH LOO RAL)
- WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
There are several ways to have mic time…
1. Sing a solo part
2. Lead the song at the mic while entire chorus sings with you;
3. Sing a verse and have the cast back join you on chorus;
4. Merely introduce the song with remarks of your own or provided by Cory (I have last year’s notes).
Mic singers WILL NOT PLAY THEIR UKES so as to have eye contact w audience. Be happy. Be enthusiastic. Let it show. The mic person is, at that moment, the FACE OF THE SHOW. You can do it!!!
TOPIC 2: CALEDONIA.
This is the most complex thing we will do. You have a part to learn. I call it the Lah Dee Dah part. Please watch the Celtic Woman video, the exact one I specified on page two of the song, before Feb. 21 rehearsal. That’s the version we are presenting, they are not the same.
ADMIN NOTES:
Four gigs have been scheduled (see below).
Our rehearsal is coming up on Saturday, February 21 at 10AM at the Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute, 595 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena. Please try to attend, and please let Pam (pamvincent02@hotmal.com) know if you are attending so we know how many people to set up for. Tables and chairs available.
Bring your own beverage and snack, and BRING YOUR MUSIC, A MUSIC STAND AND A PENCIL OR PEN. Additionally, there will be an abbreviated rehearsal one hour prior to each show’s start time. Times are listed below with each gig. Download the song sheets below, and bring them with you.
Please note there is no chart for song #5 at this time. We have added a new song this year, #15 Mairi’s Wedding. Here is a link to the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JddRkt_FYDY
At the rehearsal you will be able to sign up for the shows that you are planning to attend – Tue Mar 3, Fri Mar 6, Thu Mar 12, Sat Mar 14. Play one, some, or all. See below for details. Parking information for the various venues will be sent a day or two before the gigs.
If you are printing the music and putting it into a green three ring binder, you might also want numbered tabs to make it easier to find the songs. Arrange the sheets so that BOTH PAGES of two page songs show without having to turn a page. The set order may change for each gig, but the song numbers will remain the same.
Wardrobe is unchanged from last year (see cast photo above) – black pants, kelly green, emerald green or white top. Please no deviations. Some green top hats and other accessories will be available for your use on the day of the performance.
Gene Mazzanti has designed a great T shirt, if this is something you would like to purchase as an option for your wardrobe. It is available on the Plucking Strummers Zazzle page – https://www.zazzle.com/holiday_ukulele_chorus_2025_st_patricks_day_t_shirt-256386438120836531?tc=emc_ProductCreationForStore&emid=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ProductCreationForStore&utm_content=productImg
Rehearsal: One only, Saturday, February 21, 10AM
Japanese Cultural Institute, 595 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena 91103
Please try to attend. Tables and chairs available. Bring your own beverage, snack, and bring YOUR MUSIC AND MUSIC STAND.
FOUR GIGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED:
TUE MAR 3, 12Noon CALL TIME, 1PM PERFORMANCE
Joslyn Adult Center, Burbank
FRI MAR 6 – call time 2PM, performance time 3PM (45 minutes)
Pasadena Highlands, 1575 E Washington Bl, Pasadena 91104
THU MAR 12, 1PM CALL TIME, 2PM PERFORMANCE
Sparr Heights, Montrose
SAT MAR 14 – 1230P CALL TIME, 1:30PM – Pasadena Senior Center
Plucking Strummers meeting March 14 will be abbreviated to allow time to eat and get to the gig by call time.
More info to come. Stay Tuned!
Please direct all questions to Pam (pamvincent02@hotmail.com). CONTACT PAM IF YOU WANT OFF THE DISTRIBUTION LIST. If you know I have left somebody off distribution, please advise me. You may share this music and performance schedule with others.
Pam had a VERY fun idea…
Dueling instruments. We seem to have two harmonica players interested – Chris of Plucking Strummers and Richard from Joslyn group. Maybe there is talent out there we don’t know about?
Here is what I want, to be blunt: Three renditions of Irish Washer Woman. First slow, second faster, third fast. (Maybe the last is a duet or trio of sorts, with the fastest competent player doing melody and the other/s playing an extended supporting note on beats 1 and 3, if that was comprehensible). People will clap along on 1 and 3, it will be a great addition to our set.
This only works if we can do the fastest one reasonably fast. Here’s what I need. I request interested parties to tell me the fastest BPM (beats per minute) he/she can play it at. Somewhere around 150 is what I have in mind. No, I don’t know the key. Interested parties are going to get together and figure that out.
The Director respectfully reserves the right to abandon the idea for any reason.