Meet the Port City Ukuholics
Our music will make you smile!
Janet Capillary
Vocals, Ukulele
Janet was born and raised in Birmingham Alabama. She is a retired nurse.
She and her husband, Henry did many years of missionary work in Africa- Israel- India- and Romania. Now they are involved in local volunteer activities here in Wilmington including: International Seamens Center, Nursing Homes, New Hanover Sheriff’s Department and The New Hanover County Senior Center. Being part of The Port City Ukuholics is very rewarding , but yet very challenging . Each time we get together and strum, I am so blessed to be a part of this group and hope we are a blessing to others.
Patrick Fitzgerald
Ukulele
Patrick grew up on the northside of Chicago on lake Michigan in the village of Wilmette. He eventually moved South to Wilmington where he has been a longtime resident since 1984. Patrick retired from the import lumber business after forty-two years of servicing the manufacturing industries of furniture building, yacht production, and architectural millwork. He has always enjoyed listening to great music and now he has time to explore making it. “A musical instrument gives me a chance to be a player and have a great time with a whole new group of performers and music lovers.”
Dargan Frierson
Vocals, Bass
Born in Columbia, SC, grew up in Greensboro, NC, Dargan studied mathematics at UNC Greensboro where he met and married his lovely and talented wife Virginia Wright-Frierson. They spent six years in Tucson at the University of Arizona where he earned a PhD in mathematical statistics. Next stop, Wilmington NC and UNC Wilmington, where he taught, did research, helped to raise two wonderful children, played some music and finally retired after 38 years. Now Dargan and Virginia take regular road trips to Seattle to visit their children and grandchildren. Dargan has been playing music since the age of 12 and loves being in the rhythm section of PCU. His bass heroes are James Jamerson, Victor Wooten, and Leland Sklar.
Donna Gerard
Vocals, Ukulele
Donna was born on Long Island NY but spent most of her life in Connecticut. She has three children and four amazing grandchildren. Her daughter, son and two grandchildren are also very musical. Donna worked in the corporate office of the Aetna Insurance company, retired and became the program manager for an Art Gallery and Theatre in Hartford CT. She’s now REALLY retired and loves being a ukuholic!
Frank Hallenbeck
Percussion
Frank Hallenbeck was born in Gloversville, NY and after a successful career in Pharmaceutical Sales he and his wife and retired and moved to Leland, NC in 2022. He has been playing drums since he was eight years old in a variety of bands and now enjoys playing with the Ukuholics! As a college intern at Warner Brothers Records he worked with many popular bands including Black Sabbath, ZZ Top and AC/DC.
Shelley Hobson
Ukulele, Vocals
Watercolor artist, former broadcast producer and toy store elf... and once a member of the retro girl group Janie and the Eyeliners. Born and raised in the Carolinas and happy to be picking up her favorite childhood instrument again. Having fun roaming the countryside in her camper with hubbie and puppy!
Carol Langer
Vocals, Banjolele
Carol grew up in New Hampshire and has been a member of Port City Pottery in the Cotton Exchange for the past 16 years, crafting fine handbags and accessories. She is enjoying her retirement from Nursing and as a Doctor of Chinese Medicine by playing violin with the Cape Fear Studio Orchestra, the Covid Quintet and playing as much Ukulele as humanly possible.
Mary Lou Langley
Vocals, Ukulele
Mary Lou was raised, educated and worked in Wyandotte, Michigan. Then she found a hard working man from North Carolina and moved! She is a retired Registered Nurse with many years of hospital patient care. Mary Lou is blessed with three successful sons and two amazing grandchildren. She is also blessed with the love of music. “So please allow me to share it with you…ya’ll”.
Diane Levy
Baritone Ukulele
Diane Levy is a native of Philadelphia where she earned her PhD in sociology. She came to Wilmington in 1977 to teach at UNCW and after a 40 year career, she retired five years ago. Wilmington is definitely her home! She began taking uke classes with her husband Gary several years ago at the NC Ukulele Academy with Kent Knorr and became a part of the local Ukulele community. She plays baritone uke and still remembers songs she played on guitar back in the day. These days Diane has a new passion as a metalsmith creating silver, copper, and enamel jewelry in her company Pippi’s Jewelry Designs. Mahalo! (Photo taken on the Big Island, Hawaii)
Jo Pickett
Vocals, Ukulele
Jo grew up in Shalotte and is an avid surfer, Surf Coach and instructor. She learned to play ukulele with her Dad. Jo is also a member of The After Surf Ukulele Band in Costa Rica, where she lives Pura Vida all winter long. Photo taken in Costa Rica.
Jim Rode
Baritone Ukulele
Jim moved to Wilmington from Bay Shore, New York over 35 years ago and never looked back. When not practicing his uke, Jim can be found turning wood bowls or spending time with his favorite grandson.
Edna Seckel
Ukulele, Vocals, Hula Dancer
I was born in Mindanao, Philippines, and have 6 sisters and 1 brother, the youngest. Half of my life was spent in Honolulu, Hawaii where I met my soul mate…now going on 40 years of Bliss. While in Hawaii, I worked for Liberty House Department Store selling Chanel Cosmetics where I learned to speak retail Japanese and later Louis Vuitton then Loewe selling Exclusive Collections in Luxury Designer Fashion, Bags and Accessories. When we were relocated to Seal Beach, CA, I worked for Expo Design Center (A Home Depot Company) which targeted an upscale home remodeling market and loved it as well as it was totally a different type of Customer Service Experience. I have always been in Customer Sales and Service Industry and have thoroughly enjoyed all of my jobs. While living in Seal Beach, my husband who is the catalyst for me strumming Ukulele again.. bought my beautiful Soprano Ukulele back from Hawaii and I joined a small group of strummers called Long Beach Ukes and also continued dancing Hula. Upon retirement we moved to North Carolina going on 12 years now… and again my darling husband found the North Carolina Ukulele Academy where, once a month Kent invited ukulele strummers to his store to jam and I met new friends and started playing again. I first met Lynn in Long Leaf Park at a Ukulele jam session and our friendship started. I love how she formed us into the talented group we have become… which I now call my IKIGAI.. From the book, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. The Port City Ukuholics are simply a beautiful and talented group to be a part of with and are a joy to my heart.. My Ikigai..❤️❤️Warmest Aloha to you all! Edna
Harry Schultz
Tenor Ukulele
Harry was born in Saratoga Springs, New York. His career spanned more than 50 years and included: serving 20 years in the US Coast Guard specializing in Marine Safety and Environmental Protection; working for a Maritime Environmental Engineering Company as a spill prevention inspector, trainer, and first responder for natural disasters / pollution incidents; and contingency planning for security issues in transportation under the Department of Homeland Security. His lifelong love of music includes playing trumpet, French horn, bugle, recorder, and more recently ukulele and piano. Playing with the Ukuholics provides an opportunity to share this love with others who also enjoy the happiness music creates.
Sara Westermark
Vocals, Ukulele
Sara Westermark, originally from Crystal City, Missouri, has called Wilmington, North Carolina her home for the past 25 years. Sara earned a Bachelor in Music Performance, and Master in Music Performance, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Missouri. She has performed operatic roles such as Suzanna from Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina from The Magic Flute, Susannah from Floyd’s opera of the same name, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and Poppea from L’incoronatione di Poppea. Sara continues to perform as a regional soloist. During the 2020 pandemic Sara began to teach herself ukulele, and now owns over 8 ukuleles. Sara divides her time between teaching voice students and making art jewelry. As a mother of a transgender non binary adult child with autism, Sara is passionate about social justice issues advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and neurodivergent acceptance.
Jessica Wicken
Vocals, Baritone Ukulele
New to North Carolina in 2022, Jessica Wicken came to Wilmington with her husband, Pat Krohn, for the beach, the trees and, equally important, because she had heard good things about the art and music community here. She was particularly hoping to find other people to sing with, having been mostly a solo act for the past 12 years in Colorado. She was thrilled to overhear, and butt into, a conversation about the Port City Ukuholics with Director Lynn O’Connell, which led to a lot of fun, and balm to a harmony-starved singer. Jessica also continues to play guitar, sing for other events as a soloist or with her husband on percussion. She's been singing her whole life; with her mother at the piano, folk singer in her teens, folk rock singer, cabaret singer, musical theater performer, and member of a jazz/madrigal a cappella quartet. She's recorded four CD's, since becoming an official senior citizen; one in Spanish, one Christmas CD “Light the Night”, and two eclectic CD's “A Journey of Love” and “Been Around – Still Singing,” with original songs and others that inspire her. They can be heard Spotify, YouTube and other streaming venues. As an artist, Jessica participates in many local shows, as well as having an art studio at The ArtWorks, 200 Willard St, Wilmington. The studios and galleries are open to the public Thursday- Saturday 11 to 5, Sunday 12-5, and 4th Fridays open until 9 PM. Her website is www.jessicawickenart.com