Summer 2020 Newsletter Special Edition
HYS in NYO2! Congratulations to Matin Boulos, Emi Horii, Sewon Park, and Stephanie Yoshida from Youth Symphony I, for being selected for Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra 2 program this summer. They are among 71 high school students from 43 states selected by this highly prestigious program, out of hundreds who auditioned nationwide. This is the first time four Hawaii musicians were selected in one year, and we are very proud of them!
Matin Boulos
Emi Horii
Sewon Park
Stephanie Yoshida
The Inspiring Collaboration of Music and Medicine Medical personnel, researchers and first responders are sacrificing their health and wellbeing every day for the safety of our community. And while their bravery rarely goes unnoticed, what the public may not see are the personal lives behind the heroes, the talents and passions that fuel their lives beyond the bounds of their professions. Talents and passions like music. Please see excerpts from our amazing discussions with these healthcare heroes, and visit hiyouthsymphony.org/community for the full stories. Dr. Brent Rubio | Dr. Rubio is a part of the Hawaii National Guard team deployed on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. As a percussionist and drum major in high school, he auditioned for YSI. Now in support of the people of Maui County, Dr. Rubio and the 111th Army Band share the healing power of music amidst the pandemic. “We are essential to the military’s morale and our music helps to soften the fears and anxieties of our bravest citizen soldiers and airmen.” Dr. Lisa Wong | Another immensely talented HYS alumna, Dr. Wong works as an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She has co-founded the Boston Arts Consortium for Health (BACH) and the Arts and Humanities Initiative at Harvard Medical School, led the Longwood Symphony Orchestra comprised of medical professionals, and authored the book Scales to Scalpels: Doctors who practice the healing arts of Music and Medicine. “As physicians, we were constantly asking why there are so many doctors who play music. What we found was that you end up using the same skills when playing music as you do when practicing medicine, such as listening closely, making adjustments often, and working closely with others.”
Tara Vaughn | Working directly with nurses to develop new processes to protect the community and treat patients affected by COVID-19, HYS alumna and nurse educator Tara Vaughn must juggle her responsibilities while maintaining her own mental and physical health. When Vaughn joined the band at Highlands Intermediate, her band director singled her out for French Horn, which she studied and practiced diligently in order to develop her sound. Today, Vaughn is grateful for the role of music in her life as it helps to guide her and keep her grounded. “Music has always been meditative for me.” Dr. Geoffrey Sewell | As president and executive medical director of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Dr. Sewell holds a great deal of responsibility in the medical field—yet he finds time to serve a very special role for the HYS ohana as a member of our Board of Directors. He came to HYS through his children, Elizabeth and Katie, both of whom played in YSI as violinists. When reflecting on this overwhelming challenge with COVID-19, Dr. Sewell sees the commonalities between music and medicine as more important now than ever before. “Many physicians are able to tap into the same skills that led them to be exceptional musicians. These include certain traits such as attention to detail, precision, and physical dexterity.” Marissa Sakoda | Marissa Sakoda is a fourth-year neurology resident at the University of Washington. In the age of COVID-19, Sakoda works as a modern day healthcare hero, supporting the people around Washington state in the fight against the pandemic. She’s also an immensely talented viola player who traces her musical roots back to Hawaii Youth Symphony. Music was what first drew Sakoda to a career in medicine. “I first discovered neuroscience through a science fair project I completed in the sixth grade examining the effects of studying music on reading comprehension skills. After that project, I knew neurology was my passion and that continuing to study music would help me to reach my goals.”
Dr. Vladimir Bernstein |As a recent graduate of the John A. Burns School of Medicine and soon-to-be emergency medicine resident-physician at Cook County Health and Hospital Systems in Chicago, Bernstein turns to music as a source of quiet comfort, beauty, and recharge. In his sophomore year, Bernstein auditioned for YSI and was the principal bassist. He later obtained a Masters of Music in Double Bass Performance from The Julliard School of Music, where he studied under Eugene Levinson. So how does one transition from the fields of music to medicine? “I actually think there’s a strong connection between music and medicine. “I’ve found the practices of music and medicine require emotional sensitivity and the ability to listen and communicate beyond words. Priscilla Yee | As an experienced geriatrician and the current Medical Director of Acute Care for Elders program at the Sacramento VA in California, Dr. Priscilla Yee is an expert on all things senior care. She’s also a talented HYS alumna with experience in wind ensembles, marching bands, symphonies, jazz band, and even a SKA band! Now in the era of COVID-19, Dr. Yee turns to music as an escape from and expression of her emotions. “However you choose to enjoy it, whether it’s continuing to play an instrument, listening to a playlist during a workout, or using it to relax and calm down at the end of a stressful workday, music can be an integral part of wellness and mindfulness.”
President’s Message Randy Wong With our 55th season drawing to a close during unprecedented times, I wish to take a moment to share how incredibly proud we are of the Class of 2020. They have truly inspired us all, and we’ve enjoyed watching them grow into phenomenal musicians and passionate people. They will forge extraordinary paths based on the courage, creativity, and work ethic they have honed through music, and I can’t wait to see who they become. In this special edition of our newsletter, we are honored to celebrate the legacy of music educator George Wellington Sr., and our first responders who embrace the joy of music. Now more than ever, music serves as a uniting force, making us stronger, more capable human beings. I believe we especially need the leadership of young people who have thrived in the arts, and our graduates join a diverse community of respected and thoughtful trailblazers. We’ve received many messages of hope and comfort over the last few months, and we are so grateful to you, our community, for your moral and financial support. Although we have been taking a temporary intermission from our in-person programming, we are looking forward to the 2020-21 school year. A great many thanks to our board, aculty, staff, and supporters for their dedication and work towards helping us reimagine a new season. We will continue to find creative ways to make access to music education a right for all—and to keeping the joy of music thriving!
Board of Directors Chair Patti Look Vice Chair Sharon R. Himeno Secretary Erica Mau Treasurer Mary Ellen Williams Immediate Past Chair Richard K. Ing Directors Alan Arizumi Gladys Hirano Collin Hoo Martin Hsia Tina Lau Malcolm Lau Michael Onofrietti Geoffrey S. Sewell, MD Jake Shimabukuro Jean Tsukamoto
Aloha HYS Seniors! With the annual Aloha Concert Luncheon cancelled this year, HYS showcased our 2020 graduating seniors’ final performance in a heartfelt video sendoff. Directed by Maestro Joseph Stepec, a full orchestra comprised of senior students from the Youth Symphony I, Youth Symphony II, Concert Orchestra and HYS Jazz Combo I programs performed “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music in sync from their individual homes. Watch their video at hiyouthsymphony.org/class-of-2020.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2020! Kayleen Asuncion Severino Bulagay Tea Caliri Zachary Caluya Alizah Chao Jesse Cumpston Taylor DeCastro Luke Ellis Ryan Fielding Heather Fujita Megan Goh Hayden Hawkins Xun “Judy” He Elliott Hee Jason Hee Sofia Himeno-Price Emi Horii Stella Hung Megan Ibara Leilani Ikeda Caitlyn Kadooka Reggie Kaiaokamalie Kiana Kawahara Brooke Kumasaka Lauren Kwee Julian Kwon Allyson Kwong Jacob Lacambra Maxwell Lee Nicadrio Lee Yudai Leonzon Natasha Loh Sabine Mejia Dylan Merkel Lauren Mukae
Cuyler Murata Natalie Narito Zoe Oda Megan Ogasawara Vincent Ogasawara Kauai Paule Brandon Revilla MacKenzie Roberts Maysa Segovia Fiona Sievert Frank Sun Kylee Takanishi Alec Tam Cara Tan Cody Tanaka Nicolas Tanaka Sherry Tanaka Noah Taniguchi Marcy Tokunaga Rylee Toma Adrian Tran Emily Uetake Shankara Varma Ryder Watanabe Karen Watarida Max Womack Alexandrea Wong Shota Yamada Erena Yamatsu Brandon Yee Hunter Yokoyama Leon Yoshida David Young Charles Yung
A Resounding Legacy: George Wellington, Sr.
Shawn Conley (left) with Mr. Wellington (right) at the MTNA national finals. Conley played in HYS and later in HSO. He went on to an illustrious career, playing with Yo-Yo Ma in the Silk Road Ensemble. Conley came first as a student, and then many times as a teacher, to the Hawaii Contrabass Festival.
The life and legacy of George Wellington, Sr.—from the impact he had on the very foundations of youth symphony programs in Hawaii to his talent on the double bass felt around the music world—is challenging to capture in mere words. He inspired countless students in the Honolulu Symphony Youth Orchestra and across local schools, as well as his fellow musicians in the Honolulu Symphony; he created the Hawaii Contrabass Festival, a major educational event drawing participants from 5 continents and beyond, and where Francois Rabbath and other celebrated musicians perform alongside students; he helped to reveal the possibilities for organizations like the Hawaii Youth Symphony to take root and flourish. And so as HYS set out to honor Mr. Wellington’s work and dedication to the community, we were humbled by the wonderful outpouring of personal memories shared with us to help paint a fuller picture of a man who, as his daughter Ms. Fumiko Wellington recalls, would never take no for an answer. “No meant nothing to him, he just kept going until he got to a yes.” Raised in Boston, Massachusetts and exposed to music at an early age, George attended his childhood music lessons serendipitously next door to a halau—one, it turns out, that was run by the grandparents of acclaimed entertainer Robi Kahakalau. Robi’s father, also known professionally as Bob Carter, grew up with George, and would become a close friend and fellow celebrated bass player.
During World War II, George played in the U.S. Marine Corps Band. He graduated from Bard College in New York where he met his wife, Taeko, a visiting student from Japan. He went on to study at Northwestern University with classical double bass master and Chicago Symphony principal bass, Warren Benfield. In time, Benfield would also teach George’s son—with George Jr. (who would go on to become a bassist with the New York Philharmonic) fittingly playing the same bass his father had played so many years before. It was at Northwestern that Benfield advised George, an African-American, to take an opportunity in Hawaii—one of the few places in 1956 in which his multiracial family could live and work—and become principal bassist with the Honolulu Symphony. At that time, all the symphony players were also obliged to teach, a commitment that further aligned with George’s deep-seated philanthropic philosophy to give back to others as his mentors had done for him. Among Fumiko’s fond memories of growing up in Hawaii with her siblings was seeing her father perform in the Starlight Series at the Shell, dressed in a white tux, with symphonic music filling the air as families gathered on the lawn surrounding a stage that shone as the inside of an oyster shell. She recalls how the Wellington household was a bustling hub for music making and learning, and how her father’s dedication to his students was a constant. “Back then, music education could mean the
Mr. George Wellington Sr. (front right). Photo shared by Raymond Tabata (middle, 1st row) from 1958, complete with signatures from his orchestra friends.
difference between getting a college scholarship or not,” said Fumiko. “My father understood this from his own opportunities and wanted that door open for his students.” Singer Karen Kaleolani Keawehawai’i remembers her first day of music class at Kalakaua Middle School when her new teacher, Mr. George Wellington, asked the kids to put their name next to the picture of the instrument that they were most interested in playing. “I thought I was signing up for a viola. I got a cello,” laughs Keawehawai’i. “I was thinking, how do I sit this on my shoulder?”
George Wellington, Sr. givng grandaughter Kiyoe a violin lesson. She soon switched to bass, which remains her instrument today.
While the cello proved a challenging instrument for Keawehawai’i to carry on her walks to and from school, she soon grew to love its rich, deeply layered sound. Years later when she would embark on her own extraordinary career, she requested a cello accompaniment for a song on her first album. She attributes the honor of having Mr. Wellington for an instructor with enhancing her love of music overall—from country, to spiritual, to Madame Butterfly. She also never forgot the generous nature of a teacher who was willing to provide additional training and lessons for any student, as long as they were willing to try their best. Notes Keawehawai’i, “If you were open to learning, he’d always be there to help. ‘If you need extra time, all I ask is you don’t waste my time.’” Raymond Tabata also met Mr. Wellington through school, just shortly after the Wellingtons’ arrival on Oahu. “To this day, I cannot recall why I signed up for music because I had no interest in classical music at all—except for Disney film soundtracks... Thanks to George’s support through middle and high school, I was able to join the bass section of the Honolulu Symphony for a few years. That experience introduced me to a wider repertoire of classical music. One of the memorable moments was standing next to Van Cliburn, the famous pianist. I can still remember his long fingers, almost superhuman in length. Another was performing with the Honolulu Symphony at the grand opening of the Neal Blaisdell Center’s Concert Hall. The music experiences that George made possible have affected my life since high school and throughout my adult life.” George Wellington, Sr. passed away in 2002 just before his 86th birthday, yet his legacy lives on through his children—sons George and Sam, and daughters Fumiko, Yuriko and Haruko—grandchildren, colleagues and his many students. He touched innumerable lives with his classes at Kalakaua Schools, and later Kamehameha Schools and Punahou Schools, in addition to his work with the Honolulu Symphony Youth Orchestra and with his private pupils to whom he taught the many different instruments of the orchestra. Life lessons were intrinsically a part of the wisdom Mr. Wellington shared while teaching music. Fumiko notes how her father would always try to instill in his students the importance of making sound choices, not just in their music studies, but in all aspects of their lives. “He’d constantly remind them that, ‘whatever you practice is what you’ll get good at.’” In a spirit of giving back that his mentor would no doubt appreciate, Raymond Tabata donated his own cello from his middle school days to HYS for yet another student to be able to experience the joys of music education. Notes Tabata, “George tried to encourage local kids to get involved in classical music, especially from poor neighborhoods. His caring efforts to help a little kid from Palama changed my life forever. For his dedication and shepherding, I am eternally thankful. As Japanese would say, `Okage same de’–I am who I am, thanks to you.”
Hawaii Youth Symphony Association NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 1177
1110 University Avenue, Suite 200 Honolulu, Hawaii 96826-1598
NYO2 students (L to R: Matin Boulos, Emi Horii, Sewon Park, Stephanie Yoshida)
Dr. Vladimir Bernstein, HYS alum and graduate of The Juilliard School
Mr. George Wellington pictured with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra
Like what you read and want to support? Please make a donation online at HiYouthSymphony.org/donate. Mahalo! Follow us on social media @hiyouthsymphony