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YOUTH SYMPHONY I TO MAKE MUSIC ON MAUI Next month, the 85 students of Youth Symphony I (YSI) will fly to Maui for a two-day concert tour at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. On February 19, the ensemble will be joined by six-time Grammy nominee and 18-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano award recipient Amy Hānaialiʻi for a community concert. Ms. Hānaialiʻi's performance is graciously supported by the generosity of The Vilcek Foundation. The next day, public, private and home schools across the island will attend a Listen & Learn Concert presented by youth, for youth. During this performance, Maui keiki will be exposed to a variety of orchestral instruments with the hope of fostering interest in music and the arts overall. This is one of many neighbor island efforts that HYS has implemented to increase music education access for all children across the state. Other initiatives include neighbor island workshops, audition tours and travel grants. COVER PHOTO: Youth Symphony II holds a Listen & Learn concert at Moanalua High School. MIDDLE PHOTO: Maestro Joseph Stepec, who will make his Maui debut, pictured with Maui native, Amy Hānaialiʻi. BOTTOM PHOTO: Youth Symphony I and Hawaii Symphony Orchestra band together for a Side-by-Side concert at the Waikiki Shell.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Happy New Year! While 2023 flew by, it was nothing short of another phenomenal year for Hawaii Youth Symphony. The first quarter was filled with wonderful concerts, productive rehearsals and a Nā Mele Marathon at Consolidated Theatres. Summer brought graduations, Pacific Music Institute and symphony program auditions. To close out the year, we held a series of Side-by-Side concerts as well as our first in-person He Makana O Nā Mele fundraising event since 2019. Every year has its own challenges and 2023 was no different. It was particularly heartbreaking for many of our friends on Maui. Understanding that the island is on a long road to recovery, we have decided to donate a portion of the funds raised from our annual He Makana O Nā Mele event to help other like-minded organizations that are doing great work to increase music education access for keiki throughout Maui. Music has been found to build resilience, regulate moods, achieve self-awareness and even help to heal trauma. By providing the tools children need to create and learn about music, we build a brighter future. They become capable of handling the variety of emotions we face throughout life in a productive and sustainable way, fostering a stronger society. In this newsletter, you’ll learn about how our efforts are instilling confidence, independence and passion in our young people to support the growth of communities across all islands.
– RANDY WONG
DONOR FEATURE We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation and the Hawaii Community Foundation for their generous grants that are helping to fund February’s Maui concerts. Their unwavering support and commitment to fostering cultural enrichment align seamlessly with our mission to bring the magic of music to diverse audiences. Their generosity has not only enabled HYS to embark on this meaningful journey but has also empowered us to create impactful experiences for the communities we will be visiting; to help promote the values of the arts and music education. “The Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation has long supported the arts,” said a representative. “In funding the request from the Hawaii Youth Symphony, we are proud to play a small part in bringing youth, music and community together on Maui.” The Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation perpetuates the legacy of Emily Alexander Baldwin and Henry Perrine Baldwin, honoring the memory of their son, Fred Baldwin. The organization supports programs and projects in the arts, education, environment, health and human service sectors that benefit the people of Maui County. Thanks to the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation & the Hawaii Community Foundation, HYS will be performing two free concerts during our trip. The first concert, featuring Youth Symphony I, underscores the majestic beauty of symphonic music and fosters a sense of unity and shared passion. Maui County students from the Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Molokai Instrumental Music Education program will join Youth Symphony I to perform an arrangement of the Finale movement from Stravinksy’s monumental work, L’Oiseau Amy Hānaialiʻi performs with Youth Symphony I during the 2023 He Makana O Nā Mele fundraiser. de feu (The Firebird). The second concert (one of our Listen & Learn concerts) is designed to captivate young minds as we introduce children to the enchanting world of orchestral music. Through engaging performances and interactive elements, we aim to inspire a love for music and cultivate an appreciation for the arts. We are grateful to these foundations, and to all our donors, for helping HYS to expand our reach to build brighter futures for keiki throughout the entire state.
NEIGHBOR ISLAND IMPACT
We believe music is a right, meaning everyone should have the opportunity to make and listen to music regardless of who they are or where they live. To move towards this vision, we are constantly taking steps to increase access to music education across all islands and encourage students throughout the entire state to join both our symphony and jazz programs. “I grew up on the Big Island in Hilo. To meet students from other schools was a really remarkable experience for me,” said Wayne Fanning, Concert Orchestra conductor and HYS alumnus (class of 1993). “As a high schooler, it was exciting to get on a plane and be semi-independent, to come to rehearsal and have this opportunity to meet students from other islands and make music with them. You go back to your own program more inspired. I’m very grateful that students now still have that opportunity, and hopefully it’ll continue so that we can strengthen the programs around the state.” This season, we have participants from Kauai and from Hawaii Island, who travel to Oahu on a regular basis to attend rehearsals and performances. Many of these trips are funded by financial aid and scholarships provided by HYS, ensuring they have the opportunity to participate in high-caliber music programs.
“HYS is outstanding and fun because there are a whole lot of instruments and way more students who participate, compared to Kauai,” said Asa Thompson, Concert Orchestra participant. “I get to meet new people and make new friends on Oahu. Learning music uses both sides of my brain, so it makes me smarter too!” The effects of music on a young person’s life are countless and everlasting. Through participating in HYS, students develop skills that they carry with them forever and are given the ability to create opportunities for themselves that they may not have had otherwise. “HYS has truly impacted my life in many ways, not just musically. As a neighbor island student, I have to regularly fly to Oahu for rehearsals. This has taught me time management and independence,” said Naomi Thompson, Youth Symphony II participant. “It means a lot being able to perform with YSII because it’s a very collaborative experience and a high level of performance. HYS provides the resources that help my siblings and I to become the best musicians we can be.”
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Maui Arts & Cultural Center Next month, Hawaii Youth Symphony’s Youth Symphony I has the great privilege of performing at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC), a comprehensive multi-disciplinary arts facility in Kahului. Established in 1994, the MACC is the culmination of a long-standing dream of Maui’s residents to build a world-class gathering place for the arts. It is a space where popular and innovative performing artists can be enjoyed, connecting the island community to the world. “Since the fires on August 8, 2023, our community has faced unprecedented challenges. In these difficult times, music emerges as a crucial source of solace, providing a means to support our souls, explore our multifaceted emotions, and beautifully express our whole selves,” said MACC Education Director Moira Pirsch. “We believe that every student and individual on Maui should have the opportunity to experience the healing power of music, especially during challenging periods, fostering resilience and community connection.” Sharing similar values to those of HYS, the MACC is a site for arts education, serving all age groups from preschoolers to adults. Its cultural programming highlights the depth of authentic Hawaiian artistic experiences and represents the highest caliber of contemporary artistic accomplishments that spring from the rich cultural traditions of the past. “This collaboration is just the beginning of what we hope will be a longstanding and dynamic relationship. As we witness the positive impact on our community, we are inspired to explore new avenues of cooperation,” added Pirsch. “Our shared commitment to the transformative power of music propels us to explore avenues that can further enrich the lives of individuals through the arts.”
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BOARD & STAFF HYS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Erica Mau-Schank Vice Chair Lauren Yoo Secretary Lorrin Hirano, Esq. Treasurer Collin Hoo Directors
Sharon R. Himeno Marin Hsia, Esq. David Imanaka, Esq. Richard Ing Patti Look
Malcolm Lau Michael Onofrietti Aaron Salā Jake Shimabukuro Jean Tsukamoto
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Randy Wong, President & CEO Hannah Watanabe, Programs Manager Lauren Sergent, Operations Manager Brent Ramos, Office Receptionist & Academy Coordinator
Cyrinthia Richards, Development Coordinator
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HYS WELCOMES NEW STAFF We are excited to announce the newest addition to our administrative team, Lauren Sergent! Lauren’s journey with HYS began in September 2023, when she joined our team as operations manager. Lauren holds a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Public Relations with a Minor in Music from Carthage College. Over the past few years, she has been a member of groups including the Master Singers of Milwaukee, Oahu Choral Society and Windward Choral Society. She is committed to promoting youth engagement in music and previously worked for Drum Corps International, a non-profit organization dedicated to junior drum corps activity.
SYMPHONY PROGRAM Wayne Fanning, Conductor (CO) Elton Masaki, Conductor (YSII) Susan Ochi-Onishi, Conductor (YSII) Joseph Stepec, Director & Conductor (YSI)
ACADEMY STRING PROGRAM Michael Lim, Conductor (SOE & CSO) Brent Ramos, Coordinator Hannah Watanabe, Conductor (BSE & ISE)
JAZZ PROGRAM Ryan Howe, Conductor Noel Okimoto, Conductor Dean Taba, Director
PACIFIC MUSIC INSTITUTE
HYS Board of Directors (from L to R): David Imanaka, Lorrin Hirano, Erica Mau-Schank, Lauren Yoo, Randy Wong, Joe Stepec, Patti Look, Collin Hoo, Jean Tsukamoto, Malcolm Lau, Richard Ing
Jeremy Lawi, General Manager Joseph Stepec, Artistic Director Ignace Jang, Solo & String Quartet Dean Taba, Jazz Richard Scerbo, Director of NOI+F
MUSIC IN THE CLUBHOUSE & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES Chris Cabrera, Palolo Percussion Ensemble & Music4Kids
Yuseon Nam, Nanakuli Violin Class Laurie Shimabukuro, Super Strings Support our ongoing programs with a donation today!
HYS Staff (from L to R): Wayne Fanning, Michael Lim, Lauren Sergent, Tia Richards, Jeremy Lawi, Brent Ramos, Veronica Cox, Carissa Miyamoto, Joe Stepec, Hannah Watanabe, Chris Cabrera, Parker Nakamura, Randy Wong, Dean Taba
Hawaii Youth Symphony Association 1350 South King Street, Suite 201 Honolulu, HI 96814
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SPRING CONCERT SCHEDULE YSI Neighbor Island Tour February 19-20, 2024 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center HSO/HYS Side-by-Side Concert March 14, 2024 at The Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell Symphony Program Spring Concert April 14, 2024 at Moanalua High School Aloha Concert Luncheon May 5, 2024 at Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom
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