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Classical Music Conversations

Megan Wade on Classical Ghibli

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba

Published May 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM HST

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestraʻs Personnel Manager Megan Wade talks with Classical Pacific host, Sharene Taba about the movies and the music of Studio Ghibli. Trumpet player and Ghibli superfan, Wade does the HSO payroll while listening to the soundtracks. Hear Megan Wadeʻs top 5 favorite songs as she and Sharene Taba play "Joe"-ken-po with the music of film composer Joe Hisaishi. The sold out HSO concert of Ghibli Music takes place on Saturday, but Wade treats you to some of the music here:
https://www.myhso.org

Megan Wadeʻs Top 5 Favorites:

1. One Summer’s Day - Spirited Away

2. Reprise - Spirited Away

3. Ashitaka and San - Princess Mononoke

4. The Journey West - Princess Mononoke

5. The Boy Who Swallowed a Star - Howl’s Moving Castle

Sharene Tabaʻs Top 5 Favorites:

1. A Town with an Ocean View- Kikiʻs Delivery Service

2. One Summerʻs Day - Spirited Away

3. Mother Sea - Ponyo on the Cliff

4. Melody of the Beautiful Koto - The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

5. Feather Fletching - The Boy and the Heron

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Classical Music Conversations Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra

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

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