Hawaii Youth Symphony is a statewide

youth orchestra A youth orchestra is an orchestra made of Youth, young musicians, typically ranging from pre-teens or teenagers to those of Music school, conservatory age. Depending on the age range and selectiveness, they may serve different purposes. Orchest ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

. Students come from many different

Hawaiian islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...

and the orchestra consists of hundreds of students. The Hawaii Youth Symphony has been training students since 1964 and is one of the largest and oldest youth symphonies in the country. Concert Orchestra Cellos and Bassses

Programs

The Hawaii Youth Symphony, is Divided into four sections, the Hawaii Youth Symphony Academy, String Program, Symphony Program, and Summer Program. The Academy consists of Music4Kids, a general music class held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Boy's & Girls Club. Students in this class are members of the Boy's & Girls Club and are seven to nine years old. The Boy's & Girl's Club Band is a beginning band class with members being 10 to 18 years old. Summer String Program is a daily five-week session for beginners and intermediate players. For advanced and high school musicians, Pacific Music Institute (PMI) is a one-week program offered by the Symphony Program. All groups in the Symphony Program have rehearsals that consist of wind, percussion, and string sectionals and a full orchestra rehearsal. Groups in the Symphony program attend two half-day workshops a season which include professional instructions for each section, separate string and wind, brass, and percussion instructions and a full orchestra rehearsal.

Conductors and teachers

* Henry Miyamura, Music Director & Conductor, YSI ** Maestro Miyamura graduated from

President William McKinley High School President William McKinley High School, more commonly referred to as McKinley High School, is a comprehensive public high school in the Honolulu District of the Hawaii State Department of Education. It serves grades nine through twelve. McKinley i ...

. He received his Bachelor of Music and Performer's Certificate from

Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman. It offers Bachelor of Music (B.M ...

and his Masters of Music degree from

Western Washington University Western Washington University (WWU or Western) is a public university in Bellingham, Washington. The northernmost university in the contiguous United States, WWU was founded in 1893 as the state-funded New Whatcom Normal School, succeeding a pri ...

. Maestro Miyamura was the band director at his alma mater for 14 years, the principal clarinetist in the Honolulu Symphony, a member of

Eastman Wind Ensemble The Eastman Wind Ensemble was founded by conductor Frederick Fennell at the Eastman School of Music in 1952. The ensemble is often credited with helping redefine the performance of wind band music. At the time, concert bands used all of their playe ...

, the Hillel Chamber Concert Orchestra, and

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is an American orchestra based in the city of Rochester, New York. Its primary concert venue is the Eastman Theatre at the Eastman School of Music. History George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company ...

. * Derrick Yamane, Conductor, YSII ** Yamane received his Masters of secondary education and Bachelor of Music at the

University of Hawaii at Manoa A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

. Yamane was formerly the Conductor of the Concert Orchestra for 11 years. * Elton Masaki, Associate Conductor, YSII ** Masaki received his Bachelor of education in secondary education with an emphasis in music from the

and a Masters of music in education degree from

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is nonsectarian, but has a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1839 by Methodists with its original campu ...

. Masaki is presently pursuing a PhD in Education with an emphasis in technology from the

. He has also been at

Mid-Pacific Institute Mid-Pacific Institute is a private, co-educational college preparatory school for grades preschool through twelve with an approximate enrollment of 1,538 students, the majority of whom are from Hawaii (although many also come from other states and ...

since 2005 as the orchestra director. * Susan, Ochi-Onishi, Conductor, CO ** Ochi-Onishi received her Bachelor of music and a PDMUS Secondary Music Education degree from the

. Ochi-Onishi received her Master of Music degree from

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

and studied oboe and English horn. * Hannah Watanabe, Associate Conductor, CO ** Watanabe is a former member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony and graduated from

Kalani High School Kalani High School is a four-year public high school located in East Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Kalani is a part of the Hawaii Department of Education. Kalani is located on Kalanianaole Highway. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools ...

. Watanabe received her bachelor's degree in music from the

. Watanabe is a teacher at Moanalua Middle School and has taught previously at

Hawaii Baptist Academy Hawaii Baptist Academy (HBA) is a private, co-educational, college preparatory primary and secondary Christian school that serves grades K-12 on three campuses. The school is governed by a board of directors elected by the executive board of the ...

Moanalua High School Moanalua High School (also known as MoHS) is a public, co-educational college preparatory high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education, located in Honolulu CDP, City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii. Serving grades nine through twelve an ...

and her alma mater,

. * Chad Uyehara, Conductor, CSO, SOE and Summer Strings ** Uyehara is a graduate of

Punahou School Punahou School (known as Oahu College until 1934) is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school in Honolulu, Hawaii. More than 3,700 students attend the school from kindergarten through twelfth grade, 12th grade. Protestant missionar ...

. Uyehara received his Masters of music in music education and Viola performance from

and Bachelors of music in violin performance and Bachelors of arts in French from the

. Uyehara has been a member of the

Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra The Las Vegas Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded in 1998

, Desert Springs Chamber Orchestra, and the Honolulu Symphony as both a violinist and violaist. He has taught at Clark County School District, Nevada, Las Vegas Youth Philharmonic, and throughout the Hawaii Department of Education:

, Kaimuki Middle School, and Moanalua Elementary. Presently, Uyehara is at Saint Andrew's Priory teaching orchestra. * Joan Doike, Conductor, BSE and ISE ** Doike received her Bachelors of music from the

. Doike had previously conducted orchestras in the Hawaii Youth Symphony programs for 14 years. Doike also gives private lessons. While at Kaimuki Intermediate and Kalani High School, Doike was a violinist in the Hawaii Youth Symphony.

Auditions

Students auditioning for Youth Symphony I must be 13 years old by January 1 and in high school. Students auditioning for Youth Symphony II must be 12 years old by January 1 and 8 grade. Students auditioning for Concert Orchestra must be 10 by January 1 and 6 grade. Students auditioning for Concert String Orchestra and String Orchestra Ensemble must be eight years old by August 1 and in the third grade. Students in Intermediate string Orchestra and Beginning String Orchestra do not have to audition but must be 8 years old by August first and in the third grade. Students in the Boys & Girls Club Band must be a member and are 10–18 years of age. Students in Music4Kids must be 7–9 years of age.

Awards

During its 50th year anniversary the Hawaii Youth Symphony received the

Na Hoku Hanohano Award The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, occasionally called the Nā Hōkū Awards or Hoku Awards, are the premier music awards in Hawaii.Berger, John"A night of Na Hoku Hanohano" ''Honolulu Star-Advertiser''. May 22, 2011.Haug, Kawehi"Hoku awardees shine ...

for its “He Makana O Na Mele” concert album.

References

External links