{"id":317,"date":"2026-08-28T14:55:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T00:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/?p=317"},"modified":"2026-08-28T14:55:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T00:55:34","slug":"dukes-ukes-contest-2026-a-great-opportunity-for-young-ukulele-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/2026\/08\/28\/dukes-ukes-contest-2026-a-great-opportunity-for-young-ukulele-players\/","title":{"rendered":"Duke\u2019s Ukes Contest 2026: A Great Opportunity for Young \u02bbUkulele Players"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/I026SCS.png\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have or are a young \u02bbukulele player who is ready to take the next step beyond lessons, recitals, and school performances, here\u2019s an opportunity worth checking out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dukeswaikiki.com\/dukes-ukes\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.dukeswaikiki.com\/dukes-ukes\/\">19th Annual Duke\u2019s Ukes Contest<\/a><\/strong> is coming up on <strong>Saturday, October 10, 2026<\/strong>, from <strong>3:00\u20135:00 p.m.<\/strong> at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalhawaiiancenter.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.royalhawaiiancenter.com\/\"><strong>Royal Grove Stage at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waik\u012bk\u012b<\/strong>.<\/a> The contest is open to \u02bbukulele players <strong>18 years old and younger<\/strong>, and this year\u2019s winners will have a chance to take home a koa \u02bbukulele and perform on stage at Duke\u2019s Waikiki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But don\u2019t wait until October to start thinking about it. <strong>Video auditions open September 1 and close September 16.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Duke\u2019s Ukes Contest 2026 at a Glance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Contest:<\/strong> 19th Annual Duke\u2019s Ukes Contest<br><strong>Date:<\/strong> Saturday, October 10, 2026<br><strong>Time:<\/strong> 3:00\u20135:00 p.m.<br><strong>Location:<\/strong> Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waik\u012bk\u012b<br><strong>Age:<\/strong> 18 and under<br><strong>Auditions:<\/strong> September 1\u201316, 2026<br><strong>Finalists notified:<\/strong> September 18, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contestants submit an online application and an audition-video file upload. The contest has four divisions, while the application asks entrants to select Instrumental or Instrumental with Vocals and provide their age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Four Divisions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are four divisions this year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Keiki Instrumental<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keiki Instrumental with Vocal<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Youth Instrumental<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Youth Instrumental with Vocal<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That gives young players the opportunity to compete as an instrumentalist or combine their \u02bbukulele playing with singing. The application asks contestants to provide their age and select only Instrumental or Instrumental with Vocals, so Duke\u2019s handles the Keiki and Youth placement on their end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I asked the contest organizers about the age cutoff, and the answer is that it is intentionally flexible. Duke\u2019s adjusts the Keiki and Youth brackets each year based on who actually enters, so the divisions stay reasonably balanced. If most of the entries land in one age range, the dividing line may shift, though any adjustment is usually small and preference is still given to keeping players with their relative age group. So families don\u2019t need to figure out which bracket they belong to. Enter, provide the age, and let Duke\u2019s sort out the divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Enter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The audition period is short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applications and audition videos will be accepted from <strong>September 1 through September 16, 2026<\/strong>. The application asks for the contestant\u2019s name, age, school or instructor, phone number, email address, audition song, T-shirt size, and choice of <strong>Instrumental<\/strong> or <strong>Instrumental with Vocals<\/strong>. Contestants must also upload their audition video directly to the application form as a video file with a <strong>maximum file size of 10 MB<\/strong>. A parent signature is required for contestants under 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finalists will be notified on <strong>September 18<\/strong>, leaving about three weeks to prepare for the live contest on October 10.The timeline looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Date<\/th><th>What Happens<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>September 1<\/td><td>Applications and video auditions open<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>September 16<\/td><td>Application deadline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>September 18<\/td><td>Finalists notified<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>October 10<\/td><td>Live Duke\u2019s Ukes Contest<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are only <strong>16 days to submit the audition<\/strong>, so I would not recommend waiting until September 1 to start choosing a song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick the song early. Decide whether the student will enter as Instrumental or Instrumental with Vocals. Then use the audition period to capture a performance that represents what the student can really do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If You\u2019re Making an Audition Video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where I think young musicians sometimes make things harder than they need to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal should be to let the performance speak for itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure the \u02bbukulele is in tune, find a place where the audio can be heard clearly, use a simple camera angle, and capture a good performance. You don\u2019t need to turn an audition video into a music video or book a recording studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most importantly, read the actual 2026 application instructions before recording. The uploaded audition video has a 10 MB maximum file size, which may surprise families recording longer videos on a phone, especially at 4K resolution. Check the file size before submitting, and consider using a shorter recording or lower-resolution export if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plan on a straightforward solo performance. In practice, this contest expects one continuous take with no backing track and no accompanists \u2014 just the student and the \u02bbukulele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On length, there is no minimum, but the video should be long enough to show what the student can really do. Aim for about three minutes. Running a few seconds over is not a problem, but a performance that stretches to four or five minutes would have to be cut, so plan the arrangement to fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if your student has competed before, that is not a barrier. Previous winners and past finalists are allowed to enter again, and they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens on Contest Day?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finalists will perform live at the <strong>Royal Grove Stage at Royal Hawaiian Center<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finalists perform the same song they submitted for their audition. Amplification is provided, and contestants bring their own \u02bbukulele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no fixed number of finalists per division. Duke\u2019s aims for roughly five per group and adjusts depending on how many qualified entries come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Judges work from a scoring sheet. The main areas are playing skills \u2014 accuracy, rhythm and tempo, intonation \u2014 along with stage presence and overall impression of the performance. Individual judges have some latitude in how they weigh those areas, and the criteria can shift slightly from year to year. The practical takeaway for students is simple: play something clean and steady that you can perform confidently, and remember that how you carry yourself on stage counts too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Family and friends are encouraged to come out, and the event is more than just a competition. Duke\u2019s is promoting an afternoon of young \u02bbukulele talent, live music, and a fun community atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There will also be <strong>door prizes<\/strong> for members of the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if your student doesn\u2019t become a finalist, I think there is value in going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watching other young musicians perform can be inspiring. You get to hear different approaches to the \u02bbukulele, see what a live contest feels like, and support other players who were brave enough to put themselves out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that last part matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Duke\u2019s actually includes being <strong>supportive of the other contestants<\/strong> in its contest agreement. This is supposed to be competitive, but it\u2019s also supposed to be fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Can You Win?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>first-place winner in each of the four divisions<\/strong> will receive a <strong>koa \u02bbukulele<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each winner will also receive the opportunity to <strong>perform on stage at Duke\u2019s Waikiki<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I actually love that second part of the prize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A beautiful instrument is an amazing award, but getting another real performance opportunity gives a young musician something completely different: another stage, another audience, and another experience to build on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And every contestant receives a <strong>Duke\u2019s Ukes swag bag<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2026 flyer also recognizes <strong>Royal Hawaiian Center, Kamaka Hawaii, <a href=\"https:\/\/kanileaukulele.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/kanileaukulele.com\/\">Kanile\u02bba \u02bbUkulele<\/a>, and Duke\u2019s Waikiki<\/strong> as partners in this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Prepping Now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Duke\u2019s Ukes has been giving young players a place to perform for nearly two decades, first at Duke\u2019s Waikiki and more recently at Kahala Mall. For 2026, the contest returns to Waik\u012bk\u012b at the Royal Grove Stage at Royal Hawaiian Center. I know this contest pretty well\u2014over the years, I\u2019ve had quite a few students enter, and a number of them have come away as winners. What I like about Duke\u2019s Ukes is that it gives young musicians a reason to focus on one strong performance and put themselves out there. You don\u2019t need twenty songs\u2014you need <strong>one good one<\/strong>. Choose something that represents what you do well, decide whether you will enter as Instrumental or Instrumental with Vocals, and start preparing before auditions open September 1. Finalists are notified September 18, which leaves only about three weeks before the October 10 contest, so getting an early start really matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you have or are a young \u02bbukulele player who is ready to take the next step beyond lessons, recitals, and school performances, here\u2019s an opportunity worth checking out. The 19th Annual Duke\u2019s Ukes Contest is coming up on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 3:00\u20135:00 p.m. at the Royal Grove Stage at Royal Hawaiian Center [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-announcement"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":322,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions\/322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fourstringsukulelestudio.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}