Heidi Swedberg is passionate about people, which is why she loves the ukulele — the people’s instrument.   Encouraging all ages to engage and connect through music, she teaches, writes, lectures, and performs for the youngest children to older adults.

She has been a performer for more than 30 years, working in music, film, and television, and is known for her role as “Susan” on Seinfeld.

Born in Hawaii, her first ukulele came from the Easter Bunny when she was 5 years old.  Her family relocated to New Mexico, the place she considers home. After years of living in Los Angeles where Heidi and Daniel Ward helped start uke programs internationally: in schools, hospitals, orphanages, churches, and libraries, they are now again living in the Land of Enchantment. They love making new friends while performing and teaching at music festivals around the globe.

Heidi is a contributing editor at Ukulele Magazine, where she writes about community and connectedness. She collaborates with her husband, Daniel Ward, on recordings and instructional books, including ’Tis the Season for ‘Ukulele and Color-Along Ukulele: a Method Book for those Drawn to Play.

She plays the ukulele and sings in her band, Heidi Swedberg and The Sukey Jump Band, with whom she has released the albums PLAY! (2009) and My Cup of Tea (2013).

Swedberg appears at ukulele festivals and nightclubs with her other band, The Smoking Jackets, with multi-instrumentalists Daniel Ward, Craig McClelland, and John Bartlit.