Flight Artist of the Month: Paul Hennessee

From the classroom to the stage, Paul Hennessee has dedicated his life to music, education, and community. Based in New York City, Paul is a music educator, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey has taken him from performing with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West to inspiring young musicians through ukulele education.

A longtime advocate for bringing the ukulele into music classrooms, Paul has spent decades helping students discover music through creativity and connection. Alongside his teaching career, he continues to perform, arrange, compose, and create content online while also serving as Director of Engagement for Uketropolis.

We caught up with Paul to talk about his musical background, creative process, teaching philosophy, and love for Flight Ukulele.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your musical background?

I’m a music educator, composer, and multi instrumentalist based in New York City. I’ve been teaching at The Spence School since 2000. Prior to that, I served as Principal Hornist and later bassist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, and I’ve performed with numerous orchestras, bands, and ensembles throughout my career.

Early in my time at Spence, a colleague and I developed an after school ukulele program that quickly became incredibly popular and consistently maintained a waiting list. That success inspired me to integrate the ukulele into the Grade 3 and 4 music curriculum, where it continues to thrive today.

In addition to teaching, I compose and arrange music for a wide variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles. My work includes published children’s songs, settings of poetry by writers such as William Blake and Robert Frost, and scores for Shakespeare productions including Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and The Tempest.

In 2013, I received the Ruth Boshkoff Composition Prize from the Organization of American Kodály Educators and was commissioned to compose a work for the Children’s Honor Choir. My setting of The Land of Nod premiered at Atlanta Symphony Hall during the OAKE National Conference in 2014. That opportunity later led to an invitation to the Berlin International Music Project as an honorary composer, where two of my works were premiered by festival choirs and orchestras.

Educationally, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Cameron University and a Master of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University. After moving to New York City, I completed Kodály certification studies at New York University and remain active with the Kodály Organization of New York.

More recently, in 2023, I joined ukulele virtuoso James Hill and Uketropolis as Director of Engagement, and I also completed my teacher certification through the James Hill Ukulele Initiative.

I currently live in Manhattan with my family and our two orange tabby cats. My eldest daughter is an award winning singer songwriter and an excellent ukulele and guitar player herself.

How did you first discover the ukulele, and what drew you to it?

In the early 2000s, I found myself completely captivated by performances from artists like Jake Shimabukuro and James Hill on YouTube. Jake’s rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and James’ performance of “Billie Jean” completely changed the way I viewed the ukulele.

At the time, I had been teaching for a few years and realized the ukulele could be an incredible tool for teaching music literacy to my students. A colleague and I created an after school ukulele program, and it quickly became and continues to be extremely popular. That success ultimately led me to incorporate the ukulele into the Grade 3 and 4 music curriculum, where it has remained an important part of the program ever since.

How would you describe your style as an artist?

I primarily perform and record cover songs, though I’ve also written a handful of original pieces specifically for the ukulele, ranging from fingerstyle works to more traditional “strum and sing” songs.

I especially love arranging music, so many of my recordings feature layered instrumentation, including multiple ukuleles, bass, percussion, piano, synths, and vocal harmonies. I enjoy adding rich harmonic textures, whether or not they exist in the original version of the song.

Musically, I have a deep nostalgic connection to the music of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, since those decades formed much of the foundation of my musical upbringing and training.

What role does music play in your life today?

Music remains at the center of my life in almost every way. I teach K through 4 music students, compose and arrange for various ensembles, maintain an active social media presence, and run a New York City based ukulele group called Gotham City Ukes.

But perhaps the most joyful musical experience in my life right now is singing for and with my granddaughter, Harmony, who is almost two years old. And no, I promise I had nothing to do with choosing her name!

How did you first connect with Flight Ukulele?

I had admired Flight Ukulele for years because of their innovative and creative approach to the instrument. I was also friends, both online and in person, with several musicians who played and loved Flight instruments.

When Frank first reached out to me, I was still working with another company. Initially, we found a way to make both relationships work, but over time I realized I wanted to align myself with a single brand, and Flight felt like the perfect fit.

Do you have a favorite Flight model, and what do you like about it?

My favorite is definitely the Flight Blue Comet Tenor Ukulele. I play it constantly.

Beyond being absolutely beautiful visually, it has a warm yet punchy tone and feels fantastic to play.

I also love my Flight Lily Baritone Ukulele and the Flight Mini JB Bass. Both are incredible instruments in their own right.

Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey?

There have been many memorable moments, but one recent ukulele experience really stands out.

In the fall of 2024, I hosted Boris ‘Spicy Uke’ for a workshop and concert through Gotham City Ukes. As luck would have it, Jake Shimabukuro happened to be performing at City Winery New York City the following evening.

Not only did we get to experience Jake’s incredible performance in a fabulous venue, but we also had the chance to chat with him backstage before the show and take some photos together. The icing on the cake was Jake giving Boris and me a shoutout during the performance.

It was truly a magical weekend.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out on the ukulele?

Jump right in!

Find the music and the people that truly speak to you. One of the best parts of the ukulele community is how welcoming and encouraging it can be, both online and in person. You can learn so much by simply surrounding yourself with people who share your passion.

There are also many fantastic teachers offering lessons, Patreon communities, and online resources that can help support whatever goals you have as a player.

Most importantly, have fun. If you’re not enjoying the process, you’re probably overthinking it.

And of course… grab yourself a Flight ukulele. Or seven!