Faculty & Staff

Lanialoha Lee

Dance, Percussion, Ukulele

In 1995, Carole Lanialoha Lee-Sumberg founded and became the Executive Director of Kupa`a – Pacific Island Resources (Kupa`a), one of the organizations that form a midwest Pacific Island community. The mission of Kupa`a is to make Pacific Island cultures accessible to all. Through Kupa`a’s many significant and diverse arts and cultural presentations, the City of Chicago is promoted to a worldwide audience.

An established network of key organizations located throughout the city continually affords Kupa`a the opportunity to reach ever-growing audiences. Some of the achievements associated with building partnerships within the city of Chicago include:

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
"Chicago SummerDance for Kids" – A mini-series of free public ethnic dance lessons designed for children ages 5 and up and their families. Lee-Sumberg will be teaching a dance style of Tahiti.

Urban Gateway – The Center for Cultural Arts in Education
"Songs & Dances of Polynesia" – A touring performance of Pacific Island culture offering children at grade levels K-12 a closer look at Hawai`i, New Zealand and Tahiti. This is made available to a network of 800 public schools in Chicago and 15 counties in Northeastern Illinois.

The Field Museum of Natural History
"Jason XII – Hawai`i: A Living Laboratory" – A year-long, multi-media science education program that focused on the islands of Hawai`i, it’s volcanoes, its unique terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and its rich cultural history. Students explored these specific islands that offer one of the best representations of Earth’s geologic and biologic forces. Kupa`a worked with students grades 5-8 and their teachers, presenting activities which encouraged interdisciplinary, hands-on and inquiry-based learning.

Japanese American Service Committee
"Ke Kupa`a Kula O Ka Pakipika" (Kupa`a’s School of the Pacific Arts) offers traditional song and dance classes, with culture and language background, to all age groups including senior citizens and advanced level classes to prepare children and adults for competition.

Carole Lanialoha Lee-Sumberg joined the teaching staff of The Old Town School of Folk Music in 1996. Since then, her teaching schedule has grown from a single `ukulele class to a series of Pacific Island classes that include:

• Beginning & Intermediate `Ukulele
• Hula (ancient and modern styles)
• Beginning & Intermediate Tahitian Drumming
• `Ori Tahiti (Tahitian dance styles)

In 1999, Old Town appointed her Cultural Ombudsman to the Pacific Island community. In this capacity, she assisted in developing and implementing a traditional cultural celebration called Kani Ka Pila, spearheading the creation of this open jam session Hawaiian-style that provides fun opportunities annually to unite community members.

Lee-Sumberg has been the Outreach Coordinator of Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival since 1998. Each summer, she develops curricula, hires, manages and trains artists and produces 50 classical music concerts targeting young audiences throughout Chicago.

She is a member of Halau O Kalakaua, Inc., Hale O Na`Ali`i O Hawai`i, an invitation only benevolent society of men and woman of Hawaiian ancestry dedicated to the perpetuation and preservation of Hawaiian culture and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs (AOHCC). As a member of both Prince David Kauananakoa and Wai`anae Chapters of AOHCC, Lee-Sumberg currently serves on the Na Mea Committee dedicated to preserving and protecting sacred and spiritual lands from destruction. Lee-Sumberg was honored in 1996 by being invited to be a Music Judge for the "`Aha Mele Song Contest" held annually and sponsored by AOHCC. The Judges’ panel also included Haunani Apoliona of The Office of Hawaiian Affairs-Board of Trustees, Randy Fong of The Kamehameha Schools Music Department, Amy Ku`uleialoha Stillman, PhD, an Ethnomusicologist, and Kauanoe Kamana-President of the Punana Leo `Olelo Hawai`i Immersion Programs. Lee-Sumberg was recently inducted into Kulia I Ka Punawai, an association for Kumu Hula (Teacher of Hula) of Southern California as an Honorary Member in recognition of her work in perpetuating and maintaining high standards of pacific island programs.

From 1986 until 1996, Lee-Sumberg owned and managed a dance company called Pacific Soundz Productions. Noted for their high energy, vibrant costumes and well produced shows, this acclaimed professional Polynesian review performed for many special events sponsored by the city of Chicago, major corporations and Museum Campus Institutions. In 1991, Lee-Sumberg became the Artistic Director of the Kona Kai Restaurant located in the Marriott-O`Hare. Pacific Soundz Productions hosted many Chicago area families and international visitors providing Polynesian entertainment six nights a week until 1994. In response to popular demand, Lee-Sumberg plans to re-establish Pacific Soundz in Fall 2001.

On the web:

facebook: Aloha Lives!
kupaa-pacificislandresources.org
Milwaukee Ukulele Festival
Private Lessons

Wednesdays, Thursdays.
For Ukulele | ages 10 & up
Call 773.728.6000 for times, locations, and availability.
Group Class Offerings
Ukulize it!
for kids 6 to 10 years
Mondays at 5:30 PM beginning 8/30/2010 for 16 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0

Ukulele 1
Mondays at 6:30 PM beginning 8/30/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
No Class Monday, September 6 - Labor Day
CLASS IS FULL. Please call 773.728.6000 for waiting list info.

Ukulele 2
Mondays at 8:00 PM beginning 8/30/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
No Class Monday, September 6 - Labor Day
REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25

Ukulele 1
Thursdays at 5:30 PM beginning 9/2/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Hawaiian Hula Kahiko
Thursdays at 7:00 PM beginning 9/2/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 2
Thursdays at 8:30 PM beginning 9/2/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 2 Rep
Sundays at 10:30 AM beginning 9/5/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25

Ukulele 1
Sundays at 12:00 PM beginning 9/5/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 2
Sundays at 2:00 PM beginning 9/5/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 3 - Power Strum
Sundays at 3:30 PM beginning 9/5/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
CLASS CANCELLED | Seats Available: 0

Ukulele 1
Mondays at 6:30 PM beginning 10/25/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
No Class Monday, September 6 - Labor Day
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 2
Mondays at 8:00 PM beginning 10/25/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
No Class Monday, September 6 - Labor Day
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 1
Thursdays at 5:30 PM beginning 10/28/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25

Hawaiian Hula Kahiko
Thursdays at 7:00 PM beginning 10/28/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25

Ukulele 2
Thursdays at 8:30 PM beginning 10/28/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $140 | Member Price: $131.25

Ukulele 2 Rep
Sundays at 10:30 AM beginning 10/31/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 1
Sundays at 12:00 PM beginning 10/31/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 2
Sundays at 2:00 PM beginning 10/31/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150

Ukulele 3 - Power Strum
Sundays at 3:30 PM beginning 10/31/2010 for 8 weeks
4544 N Lincoln Ave
REGISTER NOW | Price: $160 | Member Price: $150