Classical Music Conversations

Composer Dr. Byron Yasui

Hawaiʻi Public Radio | By Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba

Published July 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM HST

Composer, Jazz Bassist, HSO Musician, ʻukulele master, University of Hawai`i Professor of Music, Emeritus Dr. Byron Yasui visits Classical Pacific to help kick off a weekly spotlight on Hawai`i composers. Yasui talks about his surprising start in music and academia, and his natural ability to play string instruments. Dr. Yasui is on the Board of the ʻUkulele Hall of Fame Museum https://www.ukulele.org and will be at the International `Ukulele Festival this weekend.

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Classical Music Conversations Hawai`i Composers

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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