Music Is A Right: Five Years of Progress & Possibility

Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony’s 2020-2025 Report

OUR VISION

We envision a Hawai‘i where music is a right.

OUR MISSION

Foster fun and creative experiences for youth that inspire a deep appreciation for music and lifelong relationships within the culture of our islands.

ORANDY WONG President & CEO HYS

ver the past five years, our vision, mission, and values have given us both resolve and direction as we emerged from the pandemic and reimagined what Hawai‘i Youth Symphony could be. We do this work with deep gratitude, for our students and families, our faculty and staff, our board, donors, partners, and the wider community whose belief in the power of music has sustained and strengthened us through seasons of uncertainty and renewal.

Guided and propelled by purpose, we expanded our horizons beyond a weekend model and leaned into defining a true community need: seeking collaborations, strengthening alliances, and building new pathways for how music shapes young people and our society. Along the way, we have asked essential questions:

• Why should music be a fundamental part of every youth’s development?

• To what extent does music matter in nurturing empathy, service, and connection?

The resulting projects and programs have affirmed our belief that lifechanging musical experiences should not be reserved for only the most advanced, but made accessible across all stages of learning and personal growth. From first-time beginners to emerging professionals, our programs cultivate confidence, belonging, and purpose — creating a landscape made vibrant and texturized by the many ways music serves, heals, and builds.

Today, HYS stands more interconnected, more essential, and more inspired than ever before. In this report, we are pleased to share the progress we’ve made, the models and ideas we’ve developed, and the projects that have both challenged and uplifted us. You will also find an overview of our endowed and board-designated funds, a summary of cumulative income and expenses, and a glimpse of our vision for the road ahead. Just like the study of music itself, our vision to make music a right is a sophisticated, nuanced, generations-long project. Consider the pages herein as our opening motifs, as we compose our future: trying new ideas, sometimes improvising, and always working together.

In the coming years, HYS will continue to turn vision into action: closing opportunity gaps and building a Hawaiʻi where Music Is A Right, not a privilege, for all.

OUR CORE VALUES

INSPIRE

We connect and uplift our communities through music.

HAVE FUN

We celebrate creativity, curiosity, and the joy that comes with making music.

DREAM COURAGEOUSLY

We dream and act with authenticity. Be bold! GROW

TOGETHER

We play, listen, and learn with kindness and respect.

As i cOmplete my first year with hys, I am continually impressed by the landscape I stepped into—an organization distinguished by its reputation, integrity, and deep commitment to young people. It has been a privilege to join a team whose professionalism, creativity, and heart are evident in every program and partnership. Thanks to their work, HYS stands on firm financial footing, with the systems and resilience needed to navigate uncertainty and plan boldly. With this foundation, we have tremendous opportunities ahead. Across our expanding programs and statewide collaborations, I see new potential to reach more youth, strengthen community bonds, and ensure that music continues to inspire, heal, and connect Hawai‘i for generations to come.

RACHEL SCHULTZ Chief Operating Officer

MAESTRO

JOSEPH STEPEC Director of Orchestral Activities & Conductor of Youth Symphony I Pacific Music Institute

Artistic Director

music cOnnects us, and music truly lives here at Hawai‘i Youth Symphony. Over the past five years, I have witnessed remarkable artistic growth across all of our programs—from the first notes of our youngest string players to the sweep and sophistication of our Symphony & Jazz programs. What inspires me most is seeing these musical journeys extend well beyond our rehearsal rooms. Our students carry their training into college, careers, and community leadership, becoming alumni who embody both excellence and aloha.

This progress is strengthened by the partnerships that elevate our work: collaborations with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, the Orvis Concerto Competition, and world-class artists raised here at home; and the privilege of performing new commissions from living composers. Each of these opportunities enriches our students’ experience and affirms the vital place of music in Hawai‘i’s cultural landscape.

DEFINING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP

The “opportunity gap” for music education in Hawaiʻi refers to the systemic differences in who gets the chance to learn, make, and perform music. It’s not about students’ abilities or motivation; it’s about what’s available to them: Do they have access to the programs, teachers, time, and financial resources that make music learning possible?

More than 200,000 students across Hawaiʻi’s public and independent schools move through nearly 400 campuses statewide, yet only a limited number ever encounter instrumental music during the school day. (The gap is particularly present in elementary and middle schools, and over the past five years, this demographic has been a place of focus for HYS.)

Further inequities, such as the high costs of specialized instruction or geographic access, widen the gap even more. Many Hawaiʻi families do not have the resources to support sustained extracurricular participation.1 Together, these accumulated educational debts lead to inequitable pathways for youth, limiting their skill development and future social mobility.2

OUR APPROACH

Providing youth with open (and early) access to experienced teachers and advanced classes correlates with stronger academic success, graduation rates, and overall better outcomes.3 HYS distills this into our Logic Model and applies the core principle that no family shall pay the full cost of tuition. Over the past five years, student tuition has covered (on average) less than one-fourth the actual cost of HYS operational expenses. Opportunity gaps are filled through our programming & collaborations, free concerts, financial assistance, specialized instruction, and more.

THE LIFELONG BENEFITS OF MUSIC

It is well known and widely accepted that music has a profoundly positive effect on youth development and children’s brains; seen in their cognition, mental well-being, and more.

Music is a form of progressive education that supports youth by:

Benefitting language & literacy skills

• Encouraging process-based learning by doing

• Promoting self-reflection & awareness

Applying skills to real-world problems

• Building social connections

• Cultivating personal character

By investing in music education now, we ensure a spectrum of artistic & other benefits which will ripple across our lifetimes and through generations to come.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

We strive to provide access to music for a diverse community regardless of who you are, where you live, or your musical interests.

Our brand is known for musical excellence in Hawai‘i.

HYS has a financial strategy that focuses on diverse funding sources including major gifts, alumni, and legacy.

PMI is the central, sustainable hub for diverse, quality music education in the Pacific Rim.

HYS collaborates with strategic partners and stakeholders to improve the reach and quality of our music education.

Our staff attains and maintains a high level of proficiency.

LOGIC MODEL

At HYS, we believe that students of all backgrounds and at all levels benefit from quality music instruction. Providing broad access at early stages opens more doors for young people. As youth find inspiration, they grow together to meet successive challenges while also developing their personal identities.

What does leadership development look like in music? It looks a lot like leadership growth in other fields. Setting short-term and long-term goals, creative problem-solving, taking on and tackling challenges, encouraging and galvanizing others to do their best, and above all, working towards a collective common good.

HYS students accomplish all of this, and more, in their pursuits of music. The dividends of investment in our work will pay out in Hawai‘i for decades to come.

WHO IS HYS?

Over the past five years, our community has included:

3,213 STUDENT MUSICIANS 11,100 CHILDREN

enrolled in HYS’ string, chamber, orchestral, jazz, ʻukulele, and Pacific Music Institute programs, who collectively upheld a 99% attendance rate and <1% tardy rate

attending FREE narrated in-person “Listen & Learn” and school outreach concerts

with financial or personal hardship, including those who attend Title I schools or participate in Free/Reduced Lunch programs

who believe in us to carry forward the next generation with purpose & passion

each with their own story, passion, and ability; all with plans to attend college or enter the workforce. Annually, each class selfreports attaining over $1M in college scholarships & financial aid.

each dedicated to the mentorship of our aspiring musicians

(Nānākuli, Spalding, Windward on Oʻahu; Lihuʻe & Kapaʻa on Kauaʻi) in the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaiʻi network

and 400,000 households reached through our He Makana O Nā Mele: The Gift of Music TV Specials on Hawaiʻi News Now and beyond

of student produced instrument demos on ʻŌlelo Community Media seen by viewers statewide

OUR FACULTY & STAFF

Team HYS at a Glance: Our employees are the backbone of our programs— accomplished artists, skilled administrators, and dedicated educators whose passion and commitment to our Mission, Vision, and Values help thousands of young people grow with confidence, curiosity, and joy.

Many of our faculty and staff have built distinguished careers across leading cultural and educational institutions. Their professional accolades span the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, Royal Hawaiian Band, Maui Pops Orchestra, University of Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu Choral Society, Chamber Music Hawaiʻi, ASTA–Hawaiʻi Unit, Hawaiʻi Music Teachers Association, Oʻahu Band Directors Association, MET Opera Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, New England Conservatory, Fender Play, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, recording studios, and more; all of which contributes to them bringing world-class expertise directly to our students.

Above all, our team leads with aloha, by nurturing students’ artistic voices, encouraging courageous learning, and building supportive ensembles where every young person can thrive.

BOARD & STAFF FACULTY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Erica Mau-Schank ♪

Vice Chair Lauren Yoo ♪

Secretary Lorrin Hirano, Esq. ♪

Treasurer Richard Ing ♪

Directors

Ben Gutierrez

Sharon R. Himeno

Collin Hoo

Martin Hsia, Esq.

David Imanaka, Esq.

Robin Kobayashi, Esq.

Malcolm Lau

Michael Onofrietti

Aaron Salā

Jean Tsukamoto

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Randy Wong,♪ President & CEO

Rachel Schultz, Chief Operating Officer

Hannah Watanabe,♪ Programs Director

Lauren Sergent, Operations Manager

Wailani Kontic, Philanthropy & Outreach Manager

Brent Ramos,♪ Office Receptionist

Mckenzee Espiritu, ♪ Music Librarian

SYMPHONY PROGRAM

Joseph Stepec, Director & Conductor (YSI)

Alexander Peña, Conductor (YSII)

Wayne Fanning,♪ Conductor (CO)

Amy Carlson, Chamber Music Coordinator

ACADEMY STRING PROGRAM

Jeff Hamano,♪ Summer Strings

Michael Lim,♪ Conductor (SOE & CSO)

ʻAlohi Igarta, ♪ Coordinator

Carissa Miyamoto,♪ BSE & ISE

Laurie Shimabukuro,♪ Super Strings

JAZZ PROGRAM

Dean Taba,♪ Director

Ryan Howe,♪ Faculty

Noel Okimoto, Faculty

PACIFIC MUSIC INSTITUTE

Jeremy Lawi,♪ General Manager

Joseph Stepec, Artistic Director

Ignace Jang, Solo & String Quartet

Dean Taba,♪ Jazz

Richard Scerbo, Orchestral Learning Alliance

MUSIC IN THE CLUBHOUSE & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Kauʻionalani Mead, Music4Kids – Nānākuli

Daniel Kawaiʻaeʻa Shaver,♪ Nānākuli Strings

Abe Lagrimas Jr.,♪ Music4Kids – Honolulu

Jake Lui, Rock Band — Windward

Maia Mayeshiro, Music4Kids — Windward

♪ DENOTES HYS

OUR ALUMNI

The journeys our alumni take are as varied and expansive as music itself: unfolding over years of study, exploration, and growth, and guided by the enduring values, discipline, and creative direction instilled during their time at HYS. In the last five years, our alumni have founded or led arts organizations, scored award-winning films, received GRAMMY nominations, topped radio charts, joined major symphony orchestras, and above all, have dedicated themselves to teaching & inspiring Hawaiʻi’s next generation.

OUR VOLUNTEERS

We are profoundly grateful to every volunteer whose generosity strengthens HYS and expands the reach of music education across Hawai‘i. Over the past five years, more than 300 parent & community volunteers have played an essential role in fulfilling our mission, by contributing their time, expertise, and unwavering enthusiasm.

• 1,200+ hours contributed through tour chaperoning, ushering, percussion and equipment movement, truck driving, and front-of-house concert assistance.

• 4,375+ hours contributed by Concert Parents, who support HYS staff at weekly rehearsals by taking attendance, assisting with room setup, and providing additional support to our conductors, coaches, and operations teams.

• 5,000+ hours contributed by our Board of Directors. Each board member serves on at least one committee, makes a personally meaningful annual gift, supports our special events, and connects HYS with their networks. The HYS Board maintains a 95%+ attendance rate across all meetings and 100% participation in annual giving.

All told, the time and effort contributed by volunteers have saved HYS more than $600,000—though the true value of their expertise and passion is impossible to quantify.

O‘AHU

‘Iolani School

Ahuimanu Elementary School

ʻAiea High School

ʻAiea Intermediate School

ʻAikahi Elementary School

Āina Haina Elementary School

Ala Wai Elementary School

Āliamanu Elementary School

Aliamanu Middle School

Alvah Scott Elementary School

Assets School

August Ahrens Elementary School

Benjamin Parker Elementary School

Campbell High School

Castle High School

Damien Memorial School

Farrington High School

Fern Elementary School

Hahaʻione Elementary School

Hanahau‘oli School

Hanalani Schools

Hawai’i Baptist Academy

Hawaiian Mission Academy

He’eia Elementary School

Hickam Elementary School

Highlands Intermediate School

Ho‘okele Elementary School

Hōkūlani Elementary School

Holy Nativity School

Homeschool

Hongwanji Mission School

Honolulu Waldorf School

Honouliuli Middle School

Honowai Elementary School

Huakailani School for Girls

ʻIliahi Elementary School

ʻIlima Intermediate School

Island Pacific Academy

Jarrett Middle School

Jefferson Elementary School

Ka Waihona O Ka Na’auao

Kaʻahumanu Elementary School

Ka’elepulu Elementary School

Kaʻewai Elementary School

Kāhala Elementary School

Kahuku High & Intermediate School

Kailua Elementary School

Kailua High School

Kailua Intermediate School

Kaimuki Christian School

Kaimukī Middle School

Kaiser High School

Kalāheo High School

Kalakaua Middle School

Kalani High School

Kalihi Elementary School

Kalihi Waena Elementary School

Kamehameha Schools - Kapālama

Kamiloʻiki Elementary School

Kāneʻohe Elementary

Kaʻōhao Public Charter School

Kapalama Elementary School

Kapolei Charter School

Kapolei Elementary School

Kapolei High School

Kapolei Middle School

Kapunahala Elementary School

Kauluwela Elementary School

Kawananakoa Middle School

Keone’ula Elementary School

King Intermediate School

Koko Head Elementary School

Kūhiō Elementary School

Kula Kaiapuni ‘O Ānuenue

Kulia Academy

La Pietra - Hawaiʻi School for Girls

Lanakila Baptist School

Le Jardin Academy

Leeward Community College

Liholiho Elementary School

Linapuni Elementary School

Lincoln Elementary School

Lunalilo Elementary School

Maʻemaʻe Elementary School

Makakilo Elementary School

Makalapa Elementary School

Mānoa Elementary School

Mary, Star of the Sea School

Maryknoll School

Mauka Lani Elementary School

McKinley High School

Mid-Pacific Institute

Mililani High School

Mililani ʻIke Elementary School

Mililani Mauka Elementary School

Mililani Middle School

Moanalua Elementary School

Moanalua High School

Moanalua Middle School

Mokulele Elementary School

Momilani Elementary School

Myron B. Thompson Academy

Nānāikapono Elementary School

Nimitz Elementary School

Niu Valley Middle School

Noelani Elementary School

Nuʻuanu Elementary School

Our Savior Lutheran School

Palisades Elementary School

Pālolo Elementary School

Pauoa Elementary School

Pearl City Elementary School

Pearl City High School

Pearl City Highlands Elementary School

Pearl Harbor Christian Academy

Pearl Ridge Elementary School

Punahou School

Pūʻōhala Elementary School

Radford High School

Roosevelt High School

Royal Elementary School

Sacred Hearts Academy

Saint Louis School

Saint Mark Lutheran School

Salt Lake Elementary School

SEEQS Charter School

Shafter Elementary School

St Clement’s School

St. Andrew’s Schools

St. Anthony School Kailua

Stevenson Middle School

Trinity Christian School

University Laboratory School

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Variety School of Hawaii

Voyager – A Public Charter School

Waiʻalae Elementary Public Charter School

Waiʻanae High School

Waikele Elementary School

Waikiki Elementary School

Waimalu Elementary School

Waimānalo Elementary and Intermediate School

Waipahu Elementary School

Waipahu High School

Washington Middle School

Webling Elementary School

Wheeler Elementary School

Wilson Elementary School

Windward Nazarene Academy

MAUI

Baldwin High School

Lahainaluna High School

Haleakala Waldorf School

King Kekaulike High School

Maui High School

Maui Waena Intermediate School

Puʻu Kukui Elementary School

Seabury Hall

Waolani Judd Nazarene School

HAWAI‘I

Hawaii Preparatory Academy

Hilo High School

Hilo Intermediate School

Kamehameha Schools - Hawai’i

Keaʻau Elementary School

Waiākea High School

Waiākea Intermediate School

Waiākeawaena Elementary

KAUA‘I

Alaka’i O Kaua’i Charter School

Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School

Kauaʻi High School

Kōloa Elementary School

MOLOKA‘I

Kaunakakai Elementary School

Molokaʻi Middle School

LĀNAʻI

Hawaiʻi Technology Academy (distance learning)

MUSIC IN THE CLUBHOUSE

In collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Music In The Clubhouse (MITCH) provides entry-level music classes to students in grades 2-5. Through the generosity of private foundations and public support, all instruments, supplies, sheet music, and instruction are provided free of charge to participants. Held at clubhouses in Honolulu, Waiʻanae, and Kailua, MITCH classes teach students how to play the ʻukulele or violin, read music, play in an ensemble, care for their instruments, and more!

“Bridging opportunity gaps is a priority as we work to ensure all youth, especially those who need us most, reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. HYS is providing access to music programs our children and teens would not have had otherwise,” said BGCH President and CEO Paddy Kauhane. “Together we are making a positive, transformational impact in the lives of our youth through the art of music.”

Although established in 2008, the program has significantly grown over the past five years. In 2025, Nānākuli is seeing its highest enrollment—even passing pre-covid numbers— demonstrating incredible progress within one of Oʻahu’s most underserved communities.

Beginning String Ensemble bassists

MITCH Music4Kids students learn to read music, follow a conductor, and play as an ensemble, setting them up for futures in any musical setting.

“Without this program, I would have never been introduced to music and opportunities like my school orchestra or the [Symphony Program] orchestras. Music really inspires me today because it allows me to express myself in ways that I couldn’t without it.”

BAO NGUYEN

Violin, HYS ‘22

ACADEMY STRING PROGRAM

Comprised of four string orchestras held at the Spaiding Clubhouse, our Summer Strings classes and our Windward-side ‘Super Strings’ violin program held at Le Jardin Academy, youth in this collective program are offered an affordable way to dive into the world of orchestral music.

Starting with classes for the complete beginner (no experience necessary), students can learn to play either the violin, viola, cello, or bass. To minimize barriers to entry, HYS offers instrument loans for free and other forms of financial aid.

“Music is something that is inseparable from who we are as human beings. It develops parts of the brain cognitively and emotionally that are untouched by any other discipline. The wide range of skills required to succeed at music alone including coordination training, collaboration, empathy and sensitivity, historical knowledge, and many other aspects make it an invaluable learning experience for any individual in any situation.”

MICHAEL LIM

String Orchestra Ensemble & Concert String Orchestra Conductor, HYS ‘07

“HYS has truly impacted my life in many ways, not just musically. As a neighbor island student, I regularly fly to Oʻahu for rehearsals. This has taught me time management and independence. 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.”

NAOMI THOMPSON

YSII participant from Kauaʻi

JAZZ

HYS Jazz, comprised of Jazz I and JazzII, helps students to find their groove by teaching them how to play as a rhythm section, accompany others, and improvise. We are proud to have guitarists, keyboardists, drummers, saxophonists and brass players among our student body, though HYS Jazz is a wholly inclusive environment where all orchestral instruments are welcome.

HYS Jazz frequently collaborates with highly-respected artists, including Jake Shimabukuro, trumpeter Eric Miyashiro, saxophonist Steve Treseler, and John Valentine. Though the focus of HYS Jazz is music performance, many entrepreneurial facets of being a professional musician or working in the music industry are addressed throughout the year. Through the Jazz program, students have direct access to top audio engineers, influential musicians, and music business gurus.

SYMPHONY PROGRAM

The Symphony Program consists of three orchestras: Youth Symphony I (YSI), Youth Symphony II (YSII) and Concert Orchestra (CO). String, woodwind, brass and percussion students go through a competitive audition process to be a member of these ensembles. Groups perform five to twelve concerts each season, performing orchestral masterpieces like Elgarʻs “Enigma” Variations or Tchaikovskyʻs “Romeo & Juliet.”

Symphony Program ensembles welcome students from all islands. With rehearsals and concerts primarily held on Oʻahu, HYS provides assistance with both airfare and ground transportation expenses. The organization works with neighbor island students on a case-by-case basis to create reasonable attendance policies that minimize hardship, while maximizing learning, participation, and artistic excellence.

“No matter what your skill level, or what instrument you play, all the HYS programs always have something for you. I play a lot more expressively now that I play a lot of jazz, and also, jazz really forces you to be confident on stage.”

CARTER NOBUHARA Percussion HYS ʻ27

“PMI is about more than just music. It provides students, throughout the entire state and beyond, with unique opportunities and experiences that help them to grow as people and succeed—both in and out of the rehearsal room. It’s inspiring to see a diverse student body come together, form new friendships, and perform music at such a high level.”

JEREMY LAWI

PMI General Manager

HYS ʻ07

PACIFIC MUSIC INSTITUTE

Pacific Music Institute is a summer music intensive that has provided for 35 years an enriching community for young musicians to explore a love of music, strive for excellence, and prevent the learning loss that often occurs when school is out of session. Instruction for various skill and age groups are offered through the Strings Program, Winds, Brass and Percussion Program, Jazz Intensive, Middle School AllState Band, and ʻUkulele Workshop. PMI attracts renowned faculty from across the nation, creating a hub for top-level instruction right here in the islands.

The program concludes with a series of community concerts showcasing everything the students have learned. The PMI Symphony Orchestra also takes part in a Side-by-Side concert with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; a further opportunity for summer learners unique to Hawaiʻi.

LISTEN & LEARN

Listen & Learn fosters intergenerational education through 45-minute educational concerts that expose keiki to a variety of musical instruments and styles. Public, independent, and home schools are invited to attend free of charge. Our scripted, narrated Listen & Learn concerts teach audiences what to listen for, introduce each instrument, and share basic concert etiquette. They’re also a formative teaching experience for our performers: HYS students guest conduct and choose popular tunes to showcase their instruments. Many current musicians first discovered symphonic music by attending these concerts as young listeners.

“These concerts represent everything that our organizations stand for: making music accessible to all and bringing the joy of music to our community. HSO members became professional musicians after being inspired by their mentors and other artists. We are honored to collaborate with HYS to provide these unique opportunities that help to show students just how far music can take them.”

AMY IWANO HSO President & CEO

HAWAIʻI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

HYS’s partnership with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra allows students to connect with a large network of professional musicians through a variety of performance, community engagement, and learning opportunities:

SIDE-BY-SIDE activities give students a chance to rehearse and perform alongside an entire orchestra of professional musicians to improve their skills, make connections, and cultivate individual and collective excellence. Held semiannually, the Side-by-Side concerts reflect a shared goal of providing broad community access to valuable musical experiences.

INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOOS, a community service performed by HYS students & staff, provide HSO patrons from keiki to kŪpuna with an upclose look at real symphonic instruments and the opportunity to try some of them out! The goal is to foster genuine curiosity and interest in music across the younger generations.

“Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to play the flute. This concerto competition helped me realize the importance of my genuine passion for the flute. Without it, I would not have persevered to eventually reach this monumental accomplishment.”

SHANE KOMEIJI

Flute, HYS ‘25

Winner, Orvis HYS

Concerto Competition

ORVIS HYS CONCERTO COMPETITION

Support from the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation provides an opportunity for high school seniors to audition for the chance to play a concerto with HYS’s top orchestra. Participants challenge themselves beyond ensemble playing, gain invaluable performance experience, explore their individual musical voice, and discover their full potential.

CHAMBER MUSIC

Many schools across the state have terrific large ensemble music programs dedicated to teaching students how to play symphony music, while less than a handful have chamber music programs that teach them how to play in small conductorless ensembles.

To fill the current gap in chamber music instruction, HYS partnered with Honolulu Chamber Music Series and Chamber Music Hawaiʻi to create a chamber music branch within its Symphony program. The program is offered at no additional cost, and cultivates string quartets, wind quintets, brass quintets, and percussion ensembles.

“Music can help us better grasp human interaction. Chamber music develops trust in one another, and coaches are there to offer students a nurturing environment to communicate freely, verbally and musically.”

IGNACE JANG

Honolulu Chamber Music Series and HYS Faculty Member

“At Chamber Music Hawai‘i, our motto is ‘Chamber Music Matters.’ It’s important because it allows us to preserve centuries-old traditions while also exploring new possibilities for what classical music can achieve today. The smaller group size offers a level of intimacy and collaboration that larger ensembles simply can’t replicate.”

CHRISTOPHER CABRERA

Chamber Music Hawaiʻi

General Manager and HYS Faculty Member

KEIKO M. SATO NEW MUSIC FUND

The Keiko M. Sato New Music Fund honors the widely respected pianist, teacher and arts supporter Keiko Sato, and her brother, painter Tadashi Sato. Keiko Sato was a piano teacher born in Lahaina in 1931 but lived most of her life in Honolulu.

The fund was established in 2013 by the Board of Directors with direction from President and CEO Randy Wong for the commissioning of major new compositions, orchestrations and arrangements created expressly for performances by HYS. Within the past five years, the fund has supported over 30 commissions from a variety of living composers and orchestrators; many local and/or alumni. HYS leads the country as one of just a few youth orchestras nationwide with such a commissioning fund.

COLLABORATIONS WITH POPULAR ARTISTS

Over the years, HYS has collaborated with several professional guest artists during its He Makana O Nā Mele: The Gift of Music fundraisers, neighbor island tours and Cozy Concerts. These include Keola and Moanalani Beamer, Jake Shimabukuro, Maggie Herron, Amy Hānaialiʻi, Raiatea Helm and more. Playing with these musicians provides HYS students the opportunity to see just how far the arts can take them and what it takes to have a career in music.

“To see [our] Youth Symphony is absolutely fantastic: the sparks [are] in their eyes. Their musicianship is so good. They’re so disciplined, and I love to see that at such a young age.”

AMY HĀNAIALI‘I

TELEVISED HE MAKANA O NĀ MELE

He Makana O Nā Mele (The Gift of Music) is HYS’s annual fundraiser. While typically an in-person gala event, during the pandemic, HYS pivoted to a televised, hour-long format in 2020. Produced by Hawaii News Now, the programs featured prerecorded performances by HYS ensembles, interviews with students, faculty, and supporters. The televised special not only provided a unique performance opportunity for our students, but expanded HYSʻs reach internationally, thanks to collaborations with six junior orchestras from our sister cities in Japan. These programs have provided a platform for valuable storytelling, while serving as a reminder of the organization’s innovation, resourcefulness and adaptability.

THE ARRANGEMENTS WITH ʻ‘OHINA

The Arrangements, a short film developed through the ʻOhina Labs program, connected students through the arts in a unique film scoring collaboration. The story, which follows Micronesian youth as they honor the passing of a friend through shared ritual and resilience, features an original motion picture soundtrack composed and conducted by HYS alumnus Dr. Michael-Thomas Foumai ‘05, and recorded by HYS students at Hawai‘i Public Radio. The recordings are now available through a limited release on 12” vinyl from Aloha Got Soul, and on digital streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify. The film won Best Short Film at the 2025 Pacific Island Film Festival, and received an Honorable Mention in the Made in Hawaiʻi Short category at the 2025 Hawaiʻi International Film Festival.

HIE INITIATIVE

HYS’s HIE Initiative (Harmonizing Intergenerational Engagement) brings together keiki, kūpuna, and vulnerable populations through the transformative power of music. In ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, hie means “distinguished, stately, regal; delightful;” a word that beautifully captures our vision for this meaningful work. With the support of community partners including the Kūpuna Collective and Age-Friendly Honolulu, HIE creates bridges between generations, enriching lives through chamber music performances while developing the next generation of compassionate musicians and community leaders.

HYS students from across the state participated in an Instagram Live event with Rep.

STATE ADVOCACY

As an organization that believes music is a right, we prioritize access and advocacy. With funding for the arts always at risk, we seek to provide opportunities for students to learn about public policy and engage with local lawmakers. During the 2025 legislative session, select students participated in the 16th annual Art at the Capitol event, where they performed and spoke one-on-one with elected officials, including Senator Mike Gabbard, Senator Sharon Moriwaki, Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto, and Representative Jeanné Kapela.

NAFME

HYS is a proud corporate member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), one of the world’s largest arts education organizations. NAfME advocates at the federal, state and local level to inform elected officials and other decisionmakers on the impact and importance of music education. A member of NAfME’s Music Education Policy Roundtable since 2020, we regularly play our part in nationwide advocacy calls, publish columns to NAfME’s blog, attend their Advocacy Leadership Institute, and meet Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation on Capitol Hill.

LEADERSHIP AT THE LEAGUE

HYS is engaged in advocacy at all levels, including nationally through the leadership within the League of American Orchestras. President and CEO Randy Wong serves as vice chair of the Youth Orchestra Division, while COO Rachel Schultz serves as chair for the League’s Youth Orchestra Division 50th Anniversary Steering Committee. Through their involvement, HYS is kept top of mind and is seen as a key player in important conversations surrounding music education at the national level.

5-YEAR FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

CUMULATIVE EXPENSE

FY21-FY25

CUMULATIVE INCOME

FY21-FY25

AWARDS & HONORS

Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony has received various awards recognizing its staff, partners, publications and other work, including the following:

• 5 Koa Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of America, Hawaiʻi Chapter

• 4 Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts

• Winner of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators 2023: Social Good

• Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 Honorees: Board Member Collin Hoo (2022), Director of Orchestral Activities Joseph Stepec (2024)

• Pacific Business News Women Who Mean Business Honoree: Board Chair Erica Mau-Schank (2024)

• Pacific Business News Business Leadership Hawaiʻi Honoree: Randy Wong for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership (2021).

• The Arrangements - Best Short Film, Pacific Island Film Festival 2025 & Hawaiʻi Made Short Honorable Mention, Hawaiʻi International Film Festival 2025