Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

RUNNING through Saturday, the fourth Shenzhen Ukulele Festival is expected to attract about 1,000 artists, fans and students to Dapeng.

The highlight of the event will be an open hula dancing course Saturday morning and a free 4-hour concert in the afternoon, to be held on the picturesque Rose Coast, Xichong Community, Kuichong Township of Dapeng Peninsula.

Nearly 50 groups of artists and fans between the ages of 5 and 60 from the Pearl River Delta, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as Japan and the United States, will perform during the lengthy musical feast. Evan Binkley from the United States will premiere his album of ukulele music “Pink Dolphins” on the Chinese mainland at the event. Tsai Hau-yi, the 2016 international Hawaii ukulele contest champion, will release her album “The Ship’s Log,” while David Chen, chairman of Taiwan International Ukulele Association, will bring his new book “Ukulele English Song Book for Kids.”

First launched in 2015, the annual event has become a public benefit platform where ukulele fans can learn from each other and exchange ideas. It also helps the public get to know this unique instrument.

The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese machete, a small guitar-like instrument. It gained great popularity elsewhere in the United States during the early 20th century and from there spread internationally. Portable and fairly easy for beginners to play, the ukulele has caught on among children and young people in Shenzhen in recent years.

“During previous festivals, we cooperated with Shenzhen Concert Hall to give free concerts and lectures,” said Li Meng, who is better known as Nemo among local ukulele enthusiasts. The young man is the chairman of Shenzhen Ukulele Association. “Each year, several thousand people have attended,” he added.

“It’s not easy to organize a public benefit event without government subsidies,” Nemo said. “Still, I’m happy to do it, because I like to play the ukulele and it brings me great joy to share it with like-minded friends.”

Besides Saturday’s activities, this year’s festival has also arranged free lectures and concerts for students on campus and in the communities in Dapeng.