Classical Music Conversations

Tuesday Student Takeover: Sage Shiroma & Tobias Watanabe

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba

Published July 14, 2025 at 12:22 AM HST

Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy seniors Sage Shiroma and Tobias Watanabe celebrate National College Decision Day on Classical Pacific, sharing their experiences as violinists in the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony. Shiroma and Watanabe both donʻt plan on majoring in Music in their colleges, but plan on finding their own path in continuing to make music a part of their lives.

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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.

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