Tuesday Student Takeover

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.

Moanalua Middle School's Chamber Strings students share their thoughts on working together and the experience of playing in an ensemble. Orchestra Director Chad Uyehara speaks with Classical Pacific about listening, balance and respect in an ensemble where students support one another and have fun making music together.

The Hawai‘i Department of Education is celebrating Fine Arts in Our Schools Month in March. Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba visited Waikele Elementary School’s third-grade class, which participated in Hawai‘i Opera Theatre’s (HOT) in-school residency program.

Celebrate arts at our public schools! March is the Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s inaugural Fine Arts in our Schools Month. Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba visits ʻEwa Makai Middle School’s Tiger Jazz Band, led by Ms. Leah VanDoran.

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.

Friends Czarina Ascuncion and Kaitlyn Li are 8th graders at Washington Middle School. Li is a euphonium player in the band, while Ascuncion plays clarinet in the band and violin in the orchestra. Ascuncion and Li reflect on their musical journeys and offer advice for incoming middle schoolers.

Roosevelt High School senior Hunter Young is a bass clarinetist who recently earned a spot in the Oʻahu Band Directors' High School Select Band. After one of the Select Band's after-school rehearsals, we spoke with Young about his journey in band, the audition process to play in the Select Band, and the teachers who supported him along the way.

Sixth grader Eliana Chang knew she wanted to play the piano when she was 5 years old. Winner of the Madeline Schatz-Harris Youth Concerto Competition in the 12-and-under division, Chang studies with Dr. Thomas Yee and will perform Movement I of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major at this weekend’s concert with the Kamuela Philharmonic.

Pianists Sophie Chan and Justin Chan are winners of the Kamuela Philharmonic Madeline Schatz-Harris Youth Concerto Competition in the 16 - 18 age bracket. The siblings are juniors at Punahou School and study under Dr. Wendy Yamashita. In this weekend's concert at Kahilu Theatre, the twins will play Camille Saint-Saens' The Carnival of the Animals. https://kamuelaphil.org

ʻIolani freshman Ben Liu is a pianist, a violinist in his school orchestra, and a winner of the Madeline Schatz-Harris Youth Concerto Competition. Studying piano under Bichuan Li, Liu has earned numerous accolades, including winning the American Protege International Music Talent Competition and performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.