The story begins in March 2012 when I was at Baan Ukulele, an ukulele store based in Bangkok Thailand. I was conducting an ukulele workshop for beginners and the theme for the workshop was “The Beatles”. While waiting for the workshop to start, along with the other participants, I noticed a family of four - Dad, Mom, little girl named “Sydney” who was 9 years old, and her 5-year-old younger sister “Japan”. We all had a great time learning “All my loving” by The Beatles and at the end of the workshop, I saw that Sydney wasn’t just an ordinary girl. She was very talented and picked up very quickly. She could fingerpick the melody while her dad strummed the chords. To my surprise, this was the first time she listened to the song.

Since then I met her and her family several times at Baan. They came to hang out, they brought us snacks, and we played ukulele together. In no time, we became good friends with her family. Sydney always calls me “teacher Maysa” even though I only taught her one song. She have learned from other teachers at Baan and sometimes takes the role as an ukulele teacher assistant. We clearly see how much she loves ukulele. She likes to come to Baan and records video clips showing new songs she could play and upload on her youtube channel. 

There were several ukulele contests around Bangkok area and I believe she had entered them all. She had won several championships from different stages including Hawaii Fest, Fortune Ukulele Day, Ukulele Lovers Party, etc. She played gigs for restaurants, hotels, wedding events, baby fairs, and hospitals, etc. Some she got paid and some she just played to gain experience on the stage. If you had ever visited Bangkok, you would have known how hectic the city is. Her parents never seemed to get tired of driving her around the town so she could play for the audience and study music. I always see her parents on the side of the stage and little Japan running around the venue. Sydney has brought many smiles, many wows, and many happiness to all who have listened to her music. She has been an inspiration yet she’s so humbled. If you watch her play, you can feel the music that flows through her heart and ukulele. 

Last year in December, she won the ukulele championship from Hawaii Fest held by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. Alan and Paul Okami from KoAloha Ukulele, one of the best ukulele companies in the world, were part of the judges’ panel along with Daniel Ho, the grammy award-winning artist. She was awarded a KoAloha concert as a winning prize and a round-trip ticket to go to Hawaii. Since then, she has been playing her KoAloha and continuing to make music with her own arrangement. Her playing is getting better every time I see her. Everywhere she goes KoAloha ukulele is always on her side. Her parents told me that she practices at least four hours a day and they never have to tell her to practice. Two hours in the morning and two hours before going to bed. She just loves to do it. It’s her passion.

Last Monday, Alan and Paul were in Bangkok for KoAloha Opio staff training so we got together with closed friends and we invited her family to come to dinner. As always, we had a great time together eating, talking and laughing. Alan sincerely told her parents that he was very impressed with Sydney and was very happy that Sydney loves KoAloha so much. He would like to support Sydney and she will never have to buy new ukuleles for the rest of her life ever. KoAloha will provide her the instruments and the full support no matter what she chooses to be in the future. Alan welcomed them to the Ohana (family - in Hawaiian language). 

I could see tears in her parents’ eyes. They were holding each other’s hands. Paul saw Sydney eye to eye and said “Sydney, if you do these three things 1. Study hard in school 2. Respect your parents and 3. keep playing ukulele. It would be an honor for me that one day I could make you a personal ukulele”….. I saw the biggest smile on Sydney’s face. They did the pinky promise. What the sweetest way to end the dinner that night and I couldn’t be happier for them. It was an honor for me to witness this. Tears are still in my eyes as I’m tying….

My friends Gamo and Pee who were at the dinner table and were long for a custom KoAloha ukulele jokingly said “Paul, we will go back to school and study hard or even get a PhD to fulfill the first rule. I always respect my parents and even though I’m not good at playing ukulele, I’ll keep playing, You’re gonna make me a custom KoAloha, right?”  … and you could hear the loudest laugh in the restaurant coming from our table :) 

Yesterday, we did a small celebration event for Sydney and congratulated her for becoming the FIRST KoAloha’s supported artist in Thailand. Sydney chose a KoAloha Thinline tenor. You can expect to listen to wonderful music from Sydney coming out from her heart and KoAloha. Her parents told me that they were so honor to be recognized and thanked me and Baan for always support them. But I said I should thank them instead for showing me what they have done. They are my heroes. They are my inspiration. There’re so much I learn from them. As a father of two myself, what I see is a talented little girl and a dedication and unconditional love that the parents have endlessly given to their children. That’s the heart!

If you ever come to Bangkok and stop by at Baan Ukulele, you might see a little girl with KoAloha ukulele playing in a corner with a small video recorder in front of her. And you might see another girl running around the shop and singing for her sister. Please say hi to Sydney and Japan. I’m sure they would love to sing and play ukulele with you. This year Sydney is running for Thailand’s Got Talent and now in the second round. We’re cheering for her!

Watch some of Sydney’s latest videos.

Smooth Criminal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dy5f1lxBcQ

I will

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVJqI1R3G6Q

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Sydney Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/SydneyUke

Baan Ukulele Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/baanukuleles

KoAloha Ukulele Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/KoAlohaUkulele