The Astoria Ukulele Orchestra plays at the Ten Fifteen Theater at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Astoria Ukulele Orchestra will perform its final show of the year on Saturday at the Ten Fifteen Theater.

The orchestra will showcase 23 songs spanning three centuries, with highlights including renditions of tracks by ABBA, Radiohead and Santana.

“We try to do modern stuff as well as really old stuff,” said Sheila Martin, the orchestra’s founder and director, “and we like to do really unusual things.” One of those things is using the ukulele as a percussion instrument.

The theater offers an intimate setting and presents an opportunity to bring music to a predominantly theatrical venue.

“Part of our mission is to bring in outside groups who might not necessarily have access to a venue to perform in themselves, and the Astoria Ukulele Orchestra definitely fits into that category,” Danyelle Tinker, the Ten Fifteen Theater’s executive artistic director, said. “We’re happy to partner with them and bring a different section of our community together.”

The 13-strong orchestra, modeled after the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, formed just before the pandemic and rehearsed throughout.

It is now a program of the Arts Council of Clatsop County. Proceeds from performances benefit music programming provided by the organization, which offers discounted tickets for Oregon Trail Card holders and SNAP beneficiaries.

“We’re all about community and we really feel supported by the community,” said Martin, who has taught ukulele classes at Clatsop Community College. “Ukulele is a really popular instrument because it’s so accessible and really fun. People who learn something as an adult are really brave and I just love teaching them.”

According to Tinker, the orchestra offers one of the most popular productions at the theater. “They’re just a really fun, high-energy group and they play music that might get you dancing in the aisle,” she said.

Astoria Ukulele Orchestra

7 p.m. Saturday, Ten Fifteen Theater, 1015 Commercial St., Astoria

Tickets are $15 for adults and free for children under 18 with an adult ticket purchase

www.thetenfifteentheater.com

Astoria Ukulele Orchestra 7 p.m. Saturday, Ten Fifteen Theater, 1015 Commercial St., Astoria Tickets are $15 for adults and free for children under 18 with an adult ticket purchase www.thetenfifteentheater.com