Classical Music Conversations

Niu Valley Middle School Percussion Ensemble on Classical Pacific

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba

Published March 5, 2025 at 1:04 AM HST

In celebration of the Hawaiʻi Department of Education's "Fine Arts in our Schools Month," Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba visits Niu Valley Middle School's Percussion Ensemble and their director, Mr. Zachary Morita. The Percussion Ensemble brings seventh- and eighth-graders together in an ensemble that nurtures discipline, creativity and most of all, friendships. See more.

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Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba

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.

See stories by Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba