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YOUNG STARS SHINE ON STAGE WITH HSO Four talented students had the privilege of performing solo repertoire alongside the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra after winning its Nā Hōkū ʻŌpio “Young Stars” competition. We are extremely proud to announce that three of the four winners, Ylang Guo, Kenneth Hironaka and Celina Lim, are members of the HYS ohana, who have participated in a variety of the organization’s programs throughout the years. “HYS allowed me to play with more advanced players and more difficult pieces than I would have had the opportunity to play on Kauai. I believe HYS is one of the reasons why I was able to win the Young Stars competition and play with HSO,” said Hironaka. “Having an entire orchestra of professional musicians accompany me on my solo was a very special experience. While it was nerve-racking, it was nevertheless an amazing experience that will be difficult to top in the future.”
Celina Lim performs with HSO at Starlight Festival concert on August 12.
“Performing with HSO was one of the highlights of my music career. The exciting energy I felt as I stepped onto the stage motivated me to express my emotions to the audience,” said Lim. “HYS has not only taught me how to become a better musician, but also other things like responsibility, time commitment, cooperation and communication, which are all skills that I can apply in my future.” The competition is open to Hawaii high school students in their senior year, specializing in strings, voice, piano, woodwinds, brass or percussion. Winners were selected by a panel of judges who carefully reviewed each audition for technical skill, musicality, showmanship and more.
Kenneth Hironaka performs with HSO at Starlight Festival concert on August 5.
HSO’s Nā Hōkū ʻŌpio provides an opportunity for young musicians to shine on stage while playing with an incredible group of accomplished professional musicians. In playing with HSO, students see what they are really capable of, inspiring them to reach for the stars.
Each student performed with HSO during the Sheraton Starlight Festival, a series of summer concerts held at the Waikiki Shell. From the enthusiastic audience and amazing accompaniment to the iconic venue, it is truly an unforgettable experience for all. Congratulations to Ylang, Kenneth and Celina on a job well done!
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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
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NEW DIRECTORS & OFFICERS We are excited to announce our board of directors’ new officers for the 23/24 season. Mahalo to these 14 individuals, who have been busy at work guiding HYS into the future. Their work is crucial to the success of our organization, and even more importantly, the keiki of Hawaii.
Malcolm Lau Michael Onofrietti Aaron Salā Jake Shimabukuro Jean Tsukamoto
BOARD OFFICERS
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Randy Wong, President & CEO Hannah Watanabe, Programs Manager Lauren Sergent, Operations Manager Brent Ramos, Office Receptionist & Academy Coordinator
Cyrinthia Richards, Development Coordinator
SECRETARY Lorrin Hirano, Esq.
VICE CHAIR Lauren Yoo
CHAIR Erica Mau-Schank Vibe Creative Marketing
The AJA Group
SYMPHONY PROGRAM
TREASURER Collin Hoo
Title Guaranty Hawaii
Trinity Investments
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sharon R. Himeno Martin Hsia, Esq. David Imanaka, Esq. Richard Ing Patti Look
Wayne Fanning, Conductor (CO) Elton Masaki, Conductor (YSII) Susan Ochi-Onishi, Conductor (YSII) Joseph Stepec, Director & Conductor (YSI)
Malcolm Lau Michael Onofrietti Aaron Salā Jake Shimabukuro Jean Tsukamoto
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 Jeremy Lawi, General Manager Joseph Stepec, Artistic Director Ignace Jang, Solo & String Quartet Dean Taba, Jazz Richard Scerbo, Director of NOI+F
NEW MISSION, VISION AND VALUES Earlier this year, our leaders and board of directors met with the goal of developing a new strategic plan—one that would recognize all we have accomplished in the past 59 years, while propelling us forward to do all the work that still needs to be done. With the help of feedback from countless stakeholders, we are able to redevelop our strategic plan regularly to ensure we are serving the community in the most effective, fulfilling and meaningful way possible. Now, we are excited to share with you our refreshed mission, vision and core values that will guide us for the next five years. We look forward to adapting, learning and growing with you.
MISSION Foster fun and creative experiences for youth that inspire a deep appreciation for music and lifelong relationships within the culture of our islands.
MUSIC IN THE CLUBHOUSE & COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
VISION We envision a Hawaii where music is a right.
Chris Cabrera, Palolo Percussion Ensemble & Music4Kids
Yuseon Nam, Nanakuli Violin Class Laurie Shimabukuro, Super Strings Support our ongoing programs with a donation today!
CORE VALUES Inspire.
Have fun.
Dream courageously.
Grow together.
We connect and uplift communities through music.
We celebrate creativity, curiosity & the joy that comes with making music.
We dream and act with authenticity. Be bold!
We play, listen and learn with kindness and respect.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As HYS heads into its 59th season, we are excited to build on the momentum from previous years while setting a new direction that will be driven by a new strategic plan and our students’ amazing energy. We have updated our mission and vision to ensure our work and goals are aligned with the needs of our community. In this newsletter issue, we seek to highlight the innovation that has allowed our students to excel. Through new and ongoing partnerships with a variety of community organizations, unique programs and valuable guidance, keiki receive ample opportunities to become their best selves – both on and off the stage. With programs for kids as young as seven, HYS helps students to build courage, leadership skills, friendships and passion that they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives. We are so fortunate to be there, cheering them on from the very beginning. Our students go on to do great things – with some even becoming professional musicians in the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and becoming part of the HYS staff. It is then that the cycle starts again as we help to develop the next generation of musicians, teachers, leaders and innovators. Mahalo to the HYS/HSO staff for making this year’s Side-by-Side program possible, and to you for your continued support of HYS! Together, we can continue to create meaningful experiences and share lifelong lessons with keiki all across Hawaii – just as we have for nearly 60 years.
– RANDY WONG
FAST COMPANY AWARD Fast Company has announced its fifth annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list in its Summer 2023 issue, honoring organizations and businesses that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels. HYS came in at No. 1 in the Social Good category for its efforts to broaden access to music education for all young people, including the launch down, expanding outreach to Hawaii’s underserved communities and more. Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including entertainment, biotech, consumer packaged goods, marketing, education, healthcare, and many more. Fast Company editors and Accenture researchers collaborated to score nearly 1,000 submissions, and a panel of eight distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies. HYS is the sole symphony listed among this year’s Best Workplaces for Innovators honorees, as well as the only Hawaii-based arts organization. Scan the QR code to see the complete list.
TRAINING WITH CARNEGIE HALL’S NATIONAL YOUTH ENSEMBLE HYS students are high achievers that strive for greatness and continuously excel– not just locally, but nationally as well. We serve an outstanding group of young musicians including Sevastyan “Seva” Swan and Celina Lim, who were selected this year to participate in two of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Ensembles. “It was one of the most memorable things of my life. Waking up and getting to play music with some of the most talented, funny and energetic people my age was just exciting and inspirational,” said Swan. “HYS prepared me for the audition because every year they give a new repertoire and we are expected to record it and play it to a very high standard. Each rehearsal gave me the chance to learn new aspects of each piece and it showed me every day where I could improve.” Swan took part in the National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2), an intensive summer training program for musicians between the ages of 14 and 17. NYO2 aims to expand the pool of musicians equipped with the tools to succeed at the highest level, particularly those from communities underserved and underrepresented in the classical orchestral field. “As a family, we value music education as an essential part of learning and growing,” said Swan’s father, Tee Swan. He says that HYS helped Swan as he “understood the importance of practice and striving to become the best that he could be.” Lim participated in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), an ensemble that brings together extraordinary instrumentalists ages 16 through 19 for rigorous training with distinguished faculty and guest artists. The two were selected from hundreds of impressive applicants from all over the nation, demonstrating the impact and importance of implementing and maintaining quality music education programs here in the state. HYS will continue to provide Hawaii’s keiki with the skills and confidence needed to succeed wherever they are and in whatever they do.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Part of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to delight and educate audiences of all ages and backgrounds and enhance the cultural vitality and quality of life in these islands. One of the ways they accomplish this is by engaging with Hawaii Youth Symphony in a variety of ways. HSO provides HYS students a multitude of opportunities to watch, play with and learn from professional musicians right here in Hawaii. Academy Strings Program conductor, HYS alumnus and HSO violinist Michael Lim said, “I remember during my senior year of high school, the Youth Symphony and the former Honolulu Symphony worked together to do a side-by-side concert after a long hiatus of not doing these collaborative efforts. The addition of the professionals mixed together with our Youth Symphony produced a volume and quality of sound that I had never heard before in any ensemble I had played in up until that point.” He added, “Events like the side-by-side concert might just be one of the sparks that inspires a musically inclined student to take the next leap and pursue their passion. It certainly did so for me.” Side-by-Side concerts give students in HYS Youth Symphony I the opportunity to rehearse and perform with HSO. The initiative originated over 40 years ago, resulting in the 1977 concert, “A Taste of Symphony.” It was reestablished as a regular program in 2018, with October’s concert being the first since the pandemic. The
concerts were developed as a way to provide a chance for students to learn what it takes to pursue a career in music while experiencing the frisson and sense of pride that come with playing in a professional orchestra. This type of interaction builds great confidence in every student, letting them know they have what it takes to do anything and everything they set their mind to. “Just as music students learn and grow from performing with other students, the opportunity to play side by side with professional musicians gives HYS students an immersive, real-life opportunity to experience and participate in musical excellence,” said HYS Board Member and HSO supporter Jean Tsukamoto. “Both HYS and HSO emphasize broad community outreach to provide opportunities for underserved individuals and communities to experience and enjoy and appreciate the gift of music.” In addition to the Side-by-Side concerts, HSO supports the growth of Hawaii’s up and coming musicians by holding its annual Nā Hōkū ʻŌpio competition (see page 1) and providing free concert tickets to our students. Our bond is stronger than ever—with HYS alumnus Richard Ing serving on the Board of Directors for both organizations, and 18 other alumni offering inspiration and high-level instruction to our students as musicians of HSO. It is through these connections, lessons and experiences that keiki are truly able to realize their full potential.
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HYS ALUMNI IN THE HSO Photo Credit: Hawaii Symphony Orchestra
Asia Doike
Jeffrey Hamano
Violin
Helen Higa
Cello
Michael Lim Violin
Colton Hironaka
Violin
Nancy Masaki Cello
Timothy Leong
Horn
Fumiko Wellington Violin
Violin
Randy Wong Bass
NOT PICTURED: Taiga Benito (Bass), Shawn Conley (Bass), Aris Doike (Cello), Karen Fujimoto (Cello), Matt Love (Bass), Brent Ramos (Violin), Casey Tamanaha (Trumpet), Lynn Tamayoshi (Viola), Sandra Wong (Viola)
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3 Photo 1: 2018 Side-by-Side Rehearsal Photo 2: 2018 Side-by-Side Concert Photo 3: 1977 Side-by-Side Program Book
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Photo 4: French horn section from 2019 Side-by-Side concert Photo 5: 2023 Young Stars Performance
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