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Tuesday Student Takeover: Ben Liu

ʻIolani freshman Ben Liu is a pianist, a violinist in his school orchestra, and a winner of the Madeline Schatz-Harris Youth Concerto Competition. Studying piano under Bichuan Li, Liu has earned numerous accolades, including winning the American Protege International Music Talent Competition and performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

On Sunday, Jan. 26, Ben will perform Edvard Griegʻs Piano Concerto in A minor with the Kamuela Philharmonic at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea. Learn more.

Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba grew up in Pearl City listening to a variety of music – mostly in the car and the choice of the driver (Grandma, Mom, Dad, sister or brother). It ranged from Hawaiian to Japanese Enka to Top 40 to HPR. Sharene played the violin in school, and is now a professional freelance harpist and mother. She and husband jazz bassist Dean Taba love to play and listen to music, and are raising their children to celebrate the love of learning and of all kinds of music.
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