Lynn O'Connell

Lynn O’Connell created The Port City Ukuholics when she discovered a need for Wilmington audiences to enjoy the little four stringed wonder in a professional setting with talented dedicated fellow ukuholics, vocalists in tight harmonies, a rhythm section and an incredibly diverse repertoire of fun rock n’ roll, standards, country, pop, gospel hits and folk music. She began her life-long passion for music singing, playing piano and guitar as a child and later received a Bachelor of Music Education in Voice and Piano from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master Of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music.  She had extensive studies and professional development in New York City under Metropolitan Opera star Nell Rankin where she began her professional career on the stage.  Notable New York roles: title role in Nightingale (American premiere directed and written by Charles Strouse); Marian in The Music Man (National Tour).  In Wilmington: Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone; Baroness Elsa in The Sound of Music; Nellie Forbush in South Pacific (Thalian Association Theater Award for Best Actress); Nellie Fowler in Carousel; Carlotta in Phantom - (Thalian Theater Award for Best Actress) and with Opera Wilmington as Sylviane in The Merry Widow.  She is the former Minister of Music at many churches and the former Director of Vocal Music at Cape Fear Academy where she took her high school choral ensemble to Carnegie Hall for a performance of a lifetime.  She is addicted to the ukulele and fills her days of retirement strumming, arranging music and being thankful.  Mahalo!