Summer 2014 Newsletter

Hawaii Youth Symphony Newsletter

Learn • Perform • Grow

Summer/Fall 2014

...of

SAVE THESE DATES!

FREE YSII Community Concert

With Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus

Sun., October 19, 5:00 pm

Kawaiahao Church

He Makana O Na Mele: The Gift of Music Gala Fundraiser

YSI with Special Guest: MAKANA

Sun., November 23, 2014, 4:30 pm

Hilton Hawaiian Village

Symphony Program Winter Concert

(YSI, YSII, CO)

Sun., December 7, 2014, 4:00 PM

Neil Blaisdell Concert Hall

FREE Symphony Program Listen & Learn Concerts (YSI, YSII, CO)

December 8-10, 2014 (Details at HYS website)

Neil Blaisdell Concert Hall

FREE Academy Winter Concert

(BSE, ISE, SOE, CSO)

Sat., December 14, 2014, 3:00 PM

Kaimuki High School Auditorium

FREE YSI Maui Community Concert

(Part of our Maui Tour)

Mon., February 16, 2015, 4:00 pm

Maui Arts & Cultural Center

FREE YSI Maui Listen & Learn Concerts (Part of our Maui Tour)

Tue., February 17, 2015

Maui Arts & Cultural Center

FREE YSII Community Concert

With Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus

Sun., February 22, 2015, 5:00 pm

Kawaiahao Church

FREE CO Community Concert

Sun., March 1, 2015, 2:00 pm

Ala Moana Shopping Center

FREE YSI Spring Community Concert

with Special Guests Conrad Tao, piano & Ignace Jang, violin

Sun., April 12, 2014 4:00 pm

Neil Blasidell Concert Hall

FREE YSII/CO Spring Concert

Sun., April 19, 2015, 4:00 pm

Roosevelt High School Auditorium

FREE Academy Spring Concert

Sat., April 25, 2015, 2:00 pm

Kaimuki High School Auditorium

Aloha Concert Luncheon

YSI & YSII, with Special Guests: The Brothers Cazimero

Sun., May 17, 2015, 11:30 am

Hilton Hawaiian Village

FREE Alumni Chamber Music Concert

Fri., June 5, 2015, 6:00 pm

Hawaii State Art Museum, 2nd Floor

Celebrating 50 Years of Serving Hawaii’sYouth rough Music

HYS to Celebrate 50 Years This Season!

The 2014-15 season marks Hawaii Youth Symphony’s Golden Anniversary—our 50th Season! Since HYS’s non-profit status was granted in 1964, HYS has become one of Hawaii’s top musical treasures—and one of the nation’s largest independently-operated youth symphony organizations.

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration kicks off on November 23, 2014!

Special guest artist MAKANA—the internationally-acclaimed guitarist, singer, and composer—will join Maestro Henry Miyamura & Youth Symphony I as entertainment for our annual gala fundraiser, HE MAKANA O NA MELE: THE GIFT OF MUSIC, at Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Coral Ballroom. Makana’s music has appeared on three Grammy-nominated albums and was the soundtrack to the Academy Awardwinning film, The Descendents. Proceeds from the fundraiser support HYS!

Later in the season, HYS students will perform alongside winners from the Aloha International Piano Festival; Hawaii Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Ignace Jang & internationally-renowned pianist Conrad Tao; The Brothers Cazimero; and will perform newlycommissioned works. Every concert will be a blockbuster; please stay tuned for more details! ♫

Remembering the Early Days of HYS

HYS began as a single orchestra, known as the Honolulu Youth Symphony Orchestra (HYSO), and was originally established in 1954 with the help of the Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce. HYSO performed its early concerts in the auditoriums at Roosevelt High School and Farrington High School, under the direction of George Wellington, Sr. In October 1961, Peter Mesrobian joined HYSO as conductor, and by December 24, 1964, HYS had been granted its non-profit status. In those years, the orchestra was comprised of 80 students from 17 Oahu schools, ages 12-17 years old.

HYS’s first concert following its incorporation was on June 9, 1964 at McKinley High School Auditorium. The concert featured Joaquin Diago, a Cuban-born violinist who was a professor of music theory in Havana and who had performed in the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra since he was age seventeen. His bio noted that he came to Hawaii “as a Cuban exile with bullet scars as phsycal testimony to his fight for freedom.” The Youth Symphony, conducted by Mr. Mesrobian, performed music by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Vaughn-Williams, Johann Strauss, and Saint-Saens. At the end of its first full season, HYS presented a Concerto Concert with Henry Miyamura guest conducting Weber’s ‘Concertino in E-flat for Clarinet and Orchestra’; Glenn Uejio, then a senior at Kalani High School, was clarinet soloist.

By 1966, the Hawaii Junior Orchestra was formed for the purpose of providing orchestral experience for young musicians who could one day become members of HYS. Under the direction of Mr. Harold Higa, the Junior Orchestra expanded from a strings-only ensemble to a full symphony orchestra, and shortly therafter, HYS increased in size from 80 students to over 190. ♫

Letter from the Executive Director

Dear HYS Friends,

SinceI came to HYS in March 2012, I have been continually inspired by the extraordinary music, hard work, and committment that HYS students put towards developing their musical ambitions and potential. With every rehearsal, practice session, coaching, or concert, these youth are actively making important investments in the evolution of their musical, cognitive, personal, relational, and other intelligences—skills that will last them their entire lives. With caring mentors like their parents & families, their school music teachers, HYS conductors, and private instructors, I know these students can eventually achieve everything of which they can dream.

It’sboth humbling, and an honor, to consider that HYS has been an integral part of thousands of students’ musical lives for the past 50 years. In preparation for this milestone year, I have spent many hours in the HYS archives, studying materials that date back to the mid1950s —even preceeding HYS’s incorporation as a 501(c)3. Of course it’s great fun to see all the names of those who participated, to see old advertisements in the programs, and to see how concert repertoire has evolved (or stayed the same) over the years.

But the most striking thing to me is the commitment HYS has kept towards serving our community at large; from its inception through to our modern day. Many of the things for which we were known y years ago are still important, de ning aspects of who we are today, and how we serve Hawaii. We’re known for our free community concerts; our free Listen & Learn School Concerts; and our neighbor island community service tours. Countless newspaper articles and even an announcer’s script from a 1963 TV show emphasize that HYS made a di erence back then, via its concerts “performed BY youth, FOR youth.” Not only do we still perform these concerts today; but they are some of our students’ favorites to play! ese community commitments are an important part of who we are.

As we set forth in our 50th Anniversary Season, we are also beginning to lay the foundation for our next y years. e Board, music sta , and administration have been engaging in exercises to help me cra our next Strategic Plan. All of us at HYS are incredibly grateful for the support, goodwill, and friendship you’ve given us over the past y years. ank you and I hope to see you during our 50th Anniversary Season!

Our NOTEWorthy Challenge Takes Place in September!

HYS will kick-off its season in the month of September with our annual NOTEWorthy Challenge. The Challenge is powered by a $20,000 dollar-for-dollar matching grant from The George Mason Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation, which means that HYS will have the potential to raise over $40,000! Donations must be made by September 30 to count towards the Challenge. Donate online at http://HiYouthSymphony.org/donate-now

For an even greater impact, Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will also match donations up to $249 as part of their GiveAloha program. Use code #77060 at the register to make sure your money goes to HYS. If you do participate in GiveAloha, please send your Foodland or SackNSave receipts to HYS (1110 University Ave., Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96826-1598) so that we can make sure your gift is properly acknowledged. Thank you for considering a donation to HYS! ♫

Welcome to Our New Board Members!

Please

join HYS in welcoming two new members to our Board of Directors: Mr. Alan Arizumi and Mr. Nathan Hokama

An alumnus of HYS (trumpet), Alan Arizumi is a Vice Chairman of First Hawaiian Bank and Manager of the Wealth Management and Consumer Banking Groups. He also serves on several boards: KCAA Preschools of Hawaii, Enterprise Honolulu, Kuakini Medical Center, Kuakini Health Systems, The Nature Conservancy,& the McKinley High School Foundation.

Nathan Hokama’s professional background is in public relations & communications, and has worked for Tesoro Hawaii. Mr. Hokama now runs his own PR/communications firm, Strategic Communication Solutions and serves on the advisory council of Hawaii Meals on Wheels. He is a member of the Public Relation Society of America. Mr. Hokama was named the PRSA Gregg W. Perry Public Relations Professional of the Year in 2008 and has had 5 daughters in HYS.

HYS programs are supported by the City & County of Honolulu and the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, through appropriations from the Hawai‘i State Legislature

Youth Symphony I’s Maui Community Service Tour

The 91-member Youth Symphony I performed three awe-inspiring concerts at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, February 9-10, 2014. The concerts were free and open to the public, and were HYS’s first performances on the Valley Isle since 2011. UH Piano Professor Dr. Jonathan Korth performed Franz Liszt’s Totentanz with the orchestra. YSI also performed works by Gioacchino Rossini, Armand Russell, Tchaikovsky; Vittorio Monti’s “Czardas”; and a selection of Broadway music.

Thanks, HYS Alums for a TERRIFIC 3rd Annual Alumni Chamber Music Concert!

Many thanks to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation, the Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaiian Airlines, and all of our parent volunteers, chaperones, production crew, and Maui supporters for helping HYS make this important trip not only possible, but a huge success!

If you missed YSI on Maui last year, WE WILL BE BACK in 2015— Community Concert on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015 and Listen & Learn Concerts on Feb. 17, 2015. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Share Your HYS Memories!

Do you have a good collection of photos from yesteryear? Or a particular knack for remembering or recognizing your peers?

HYS could use your help! Not only do we have many photos with unidentified people, but we are also on the look-out for alums that we have lost touch with over the years! We are also collecting stories and memories to share as part of our 50th Anniversary season.

Please contact the office if you are interested and would like to help us. ♫

HYS alumni representing the last 20 years performed at the Hawaii State Art Museum on June 6, 2014. HYS sends a BIG MAHALO to the following alums who shared their music that special night! You helped to raise over $1,000 for HYS! The next Alumni Chamber Music concert is scheduled for June 5, 2015. Whether you already have a group, or whether you’d like to be connected with other alums, please contact Randy Wong at HYS if you are interested in performing. We would love to see more of you pick up your instruments again!

In Memoriam...

HYS is saddened to share the passing of Edward T. Kanaya, renowned flutist, teacher, and musician. Mr. Kanaya served on the HYS Board of Directors from 1977-1982.

Mr. Kanaya played in the Army Band, Royal Hawaiian Band and Honolulu Symphony. He taught at Washington Intermediate School for 25 years, and later taught at Highlands Intermediate School. Mr. Kanaya co-founded the Oahu Band Directors Association and helped organize the annual Hawaii Music Educators Association Summer Camp.

Mahalo, HYS Board!

The HYS Board of Directors met for its annual retreat on July 27, 2014 to engage in Strategic Planning discussions.

Pictured,

left to right:

Keith Sakamoto, Chris Yuen, Roy King, Les Murata, Meredith Prescott (staff ), Jean Tsukamoto, Mike Onofrietti, Patti Look, Alan Arizumi, Martin Hsia, Nathan Hokama, Malcolm Lau, Randy Wong (staff ).

Aloha Concert Luncheon Graduated 42 Seniors!

Our annual Aloha Concert Luncheon took place on May 18, 2014 at Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Coral Ballroom. Over 550 friends, family members, and supporters were in attendance. Senior Anthony Lieu gave the invocation speech. Special guest artists Hot Club of Hulaville (Jeff Linsky & Sonny Silva, guitars; Duane Padilla, violin) performed gypsy jazz with Youth Symphony I, with graduating seniors Oliver Jia-Richards (bassoon) and Ryan Chien (clarinet) taking improvised solos in front of the orchestra. YSII Concertmaster Chelsea Cline beautifully performed the Theme from Schindler’s List. Special thanks also to Ben Gutierrez, who was Master of Ceremonies!

HYS a ‘Finalist’ in the Na Hoku Awards

Last newsletter we reported to you that HYS had made its first commercial album release: the live recording from our 2013 He Makana O Na Mele: The Gift of Music fundraiser, subtitled “The Golden Ages of Waikiki,” with guest performers Jimmy Borges and The Waitiki 7. Well, good news: In May, HYS was honored with a nomination for “Instrumental Album of the Year,” and even finished as a Finalist! The nomination was HYS’s first in its 50 year history and truly a milestone for our organization.

Several members of our Board of Directors and Henry Miyamura attended the awards ceremony, appropriately titled “Reach for the Stars.” We saw many HYS supporters there, including Jake Shimabukuro—pictured at right, with Mr. Miyamura!

If you’re curious about hearing the album that made HYS history, search for “Hawaii Youth Symphony” on iTunes or CDBaby.com, and you can get it as a digital download. Sales proceeds benefit HYS! ♫

Summer Strings: Sizzling Music at the Boys & Girls Club

Forty-three students ages 8 and up participated in HYS’s annual Summer Strings program, an intensive 5-week course for beginning and intermediate string players. The classes were taught by HYS alumni Jeff Hamano and Elizabeth Lee. Summer Strings culminated with a performance for families and fellow Boys & Girls Clubhouse members.

Spring Concert-Mania!

ASUPER

JOB by ALL students in ALL programs! It was so inspiring to hear the progress that was made in the last year. HYS Spring Concerts occurred on April 13, 26, & 27, 2014, at Pearl City Cultural Center, Roosevelt High School Auditorium, and Kaimuki High School Auditorium, respectively. A special shout-out to our guest artists, Jonathan Korth and Babasango for incredibly virtuosic performances.

CONGRATS to our EXTRAORDINARY Music Staff!

Academy & Clubhouse Programs—Joy Waikoloa, Wayne Fanning, Joan Doike, Helen Fong, Chad Uyehara, and Charlotte Fukumoto. Symphony Program—Henry Miyamura, Derrick Yamane, Elton Masaki, Susan Ochi-Onishi, Hannah Watanabe.

Pacific Music Institute was a blast!

YTSI performed Neil McKay’s “Bop-A-Deedle, “ written for Sango and HYS in 2002. The piece is a light-hearted work with rhythms based in the ‘samba’ tradition.

his summer’s Pacific Music Institute, held July 11-20, 2014, had the highest enrollment in twenty years—nearly 130 students in grades 8-12 came to improve their musical “chops”, make new friends, and learn tons of music. Highlights from this summer’s PMI included a conducting class with Mr. Miyamura; both a faculty and student chamber music recital; a surprise visit by HYS alumnus Ben Reitveld (bassist with Santana and Miles Davis); a special masterclass with visiting trumpeter Joe Foley (of the Boston Pops & faculty member at New England Conservatory); and last, but not least, really ASTOUNDING concerts by the Concert Band, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, and the Combined Finale orchestra.

Alumni

Hannah Watanabe (violin), Aris Doike (cello), Matt Love (bass), Lynn Muramaru (flute), Lynne Nakaura (clarinet), Michael Yoshimi (clarinet), Curtis Noborikawa (clarinet), Susan Ochi-Onishi (oboe), Derek Fujio (oboe), Sharon Nakama (oboe), KeAnuenue Hayashi (trombone), Rory Onishi (horn), and Ira Wong (percussion/jazz band) all served as clinicians. They were joined by Hawaii Symphony musicians Dr. Helen Liu (violin), Colin Belisle (viola), Ken Hafner (trumpet), Paul Barrett (bassoon), Marie Lickwar (horn), and Dr. T.J. Ricer (low brass); UH professor Dr. I-Bei Lin (cello); and renowned music educator Kazu Sunabe (saxophone). Conductors Henry Miyamura, Derrick Yamane, Elton Masaki, and Hannah Watanabe conducted the large ensembles. ♫

Symphony Association

1110 University Ave., #200 Honolulu, HI 96826-1598 (808) 941-9706 • www.HiYouthSymphony.org

Celebrating 50 Years of Serving

HYS Needs Your Help!

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration begins with our gala fundraiser, He Makana O Na Mele: The Gift of Music, on Sunday, November 23!

We would really appreciate your donation of an item for our Silent Auction, or crafts & baked goods for our Country Store!

POPULAR AUCTION ITEMS:

• Restaurant or Store Gift Cards

• Hotel or Vacation Packages

• Special Opportunities or

• Recreational/Family Activities

• Wine

POPULAR COUNTRY STORE ITEMS:

• Brownies, cookies

• Snack mix

• Crafts, jewelry

• Small pieces of art

Silent Auction items or non-perishable Country Store items may be brought to the HYS office, now through Friday, November 7, 2014. Perishable items may be dropped off to HYS on Friday, November 21 or on the day of the event. Proceeds from the fundraiser help us to keep HYS tuition affordable, and supports all of our many programs. Mahalo for your support!

Please contact HYS at 941-9706 or Admin@HiYouthSymphony.org if you have any questions.