Craig & Sarah

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QUOTED

“Analysis Plus Cables are what carries every note and emotion to our audience. Whether live or recording in a studio, these cables will always be an essential part of our sound.”

BIO

Even though Craig Chee was born and raised on Oahu, he matured as an ‘ukulele player and musician on the mainland. Throughout attending and graduating from the University of Oregon, Craig focused on teaching a myriad of different styles with the tiny instrument. Craig started his learning journey, like many other Hawai’i residents, with friends and the Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Studio. He has had the honor of working under Jake Shimabukuro and Troy Fernandez, and has become a world renowned teacher and performer. Craig infuses his energetic and just plain “fun” style into many genres of music and is known for his collaborations at different music events.

Sarah Maisel was born and raised in Alabama and found herself working in San Diego, CA as the Lead Female Draper for the La Jolla Playhouse and the University of California San Diego. On walking into a local ‘ukulele jam, Sarah was both fascinated by the instrument and the joy that surrounded it. Studying under Frank Leong, Sarah dove into the jazz stylings of golden age Hawai’i songs and arrangements inspired by ‘ukulele legends like Lyle Ritz, Benny Chong and Byron Yasui. Sarah found a passion of teaching and performing with the ‘ukulele and was quickly featured at many ‘ukulele festivals around the world.

Craig and Sarah discovered a similar passion and work ethic and in 2015, married. They have made an incredible splash in the ‘ukulele scene with their complementing styles and vocal harmonies. Craig and Sarah have been featured at ‘Ukulele Festivals and events all over the world including Cairns and the Sunshine Coast (Australia), Cheltenham and Huddersfield (United Kingdom), Vancouver (Canada), Tokyo (Japan), Berlin (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Honolulu (HI), and all over the continental US. Both feel very fortunate to have been featured on the cover of ‘Ukulele Magazine.

Their love of teaching has blossomed into a successful Online ‘Ukulele School with Artistworks in 2016. In 2018 they created a monthly series of Live Streams for their ArtistWorks students. Those Livestreams were so popular that they were made available to the public after a few months, and became a new and fun way for them to share their passion for teaching and ‘ukulele with everyone! In 2020, they became the first to create an online ‘Ukulele Festival, making it a fundraiser for all of the players who participated. The first “Not so Mini Fest” that they created was such an incredible hit, that they did one more the following month. These events featured artists they had met through their world travels and allowed people in the ‘ukulele community to connect and support one another. In creating these Virtual Festivals, they were able give back to the community that had given them so much.

In September of 2020, due to the pandemic and the birth of their son earlier that year, they decided to move home, to Hawai’i. Since moving home they have organized and hosted the 51st Ukulele Festival Hawaii, including three mini events leading up to the main day (all virtual 2021). They have also started their own Backyard Concert Series, broadcasting local musicians to a global audience. Their monthly livestreams are still on going, as they continue to spread the love of ukulele and teaching to the world.