hawaii youth symphony

Waiākea High School sophomore Keira Ida Ayu is a pianist, percussionist and a commuter! With the support of her dedicated family and a community of caring teachers, Ida Ayu is able to have fun, grow, and give back to others.

Joe Stepec, director of orchestral activities with the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony (HYS), visits Classical Pacific to discuss the upcoming side-by-side concert with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra (HSO) on March 12 at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony celebrates 60 years of music education in the state of Hawaiʻi with a fundraiser, He Makana O Na Mele this weekend. President and CEO of HYS Randy Wong talks about the programs of the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony and the celebration fundraiser.

Hawaii Baptist Academy 9th grader, Nainoa Tindle is an oboist with Hawaii Youth Symphony's YS II, his school wind ensemble and the Oahu Civic Orchestra. Nainoa is also learning the flute, clarinet, violin, viola, and is helping to start an orchestra in his school.

Classical and Jazz musician Dena Brennan graduated with her International Baccalaureate Diploma from Le Jardin Academy, and will be attending Sarah Lawrence College in the Fall. In this Student Takeover, Brennan talks about improvisation, family, and her years playing the flute in both Hawaii Youth Symphony Programs: Symphony Program and HYS Jazz.

Punahou graduate, Shane Komeiji was a soloist with the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. The winner of the Nā Hōkū ‘Ōpio “Young Stars” studied flute and voice, and will be attending Harvard University in the fall.

Hawaii Youth Symphonyʻs Pacific Music Institute has been a part of our summer musical community for more than 30 years. PMIʻs General Manager, Jeremy Lawi spoke to Classical Pacific about this yearʻs programs and the final concerts this weekend. To be involved next year, Lawi says registration information will be available February 2025. https://www.pacificmusichi.org

Oboist Emily Fujii is pursuing a double major: English & Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Music at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Fujii started the oboe at Kaimuki Middle School, is an alum of the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony and was a soloist with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the Nā Hōkō ʻŌpio Young Stars concerto competition.

Mililani High School senior Belise Swartwood is a violinist, a swimmer, and will be attending M.I.T. in the Fall. She studies the violin with Wu Hung, and was the concert master in Hawaii Youth Symphonyʻs YSI last semester. Swartwood brought in some of her favorite pieces and explained how she balances all of her activites,

Musician sisters Evie Tjoeng (cello) and Ellie Tjoeng (violin) both play in Hawaii Youth Symphony's Concert Orchestra. Evie and Ellie brought in their favorite pieces to share along with great advice and stories of how they started in music.