ARTISTS:   

Honolulu Symphony: Education Concerts for Grade 1 to 3
Stuart Chafetz, conductor
Winners of the Youth Concerto Competition:
Bolin Chang, piano – Iolani School student
Tiffany Cheung, piano – Iolani School student
Jeanae Mie Kaneshiro, violin – Punahou School student
Celio Ou, violin – Iolani School student
Joyce Wang, piano – Kalani High School student
Taylor Yasui, cello – Kamehameha High School student
                                                 

CONCERT:   

Thursday, April 9 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday, April 29 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
All concerts take place at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
    

PROGRAM:   

“America: My County, My Music”
Featured composers include Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, John Williams, Nona Beamer and David Kalākaua

TICKETS:   

Schools groups can register online at www.honolulusymphony.com
For more information, contact edcom@honolulusymphony.com or (808)469-4126.

HONOLULU – The Honolulu Symphony will make dreams come true for six local teens as they perform as guest soloists with the full orchestra in April. The teens, who are the winners of the Symphony Associates’ Youth Concerto Competition, will enjoy an amateur’s rare opportunity: performing with a world-class orchestra in a concert hall. The gifted students, who attend Kalani High School, Kamehameha High School, Iolani School and Punahou School, will be greeted by a receptive audience of first, second and third graders from across Oahu. Many of these elementary school children will be attending their first concert as part of the Symphony’s statewide music program.

By sharing the performances of teen musicians with an elementary school audience, the Symphony hopes to inspire children to dedicate effort to schoolwork and hobbies – just as the teens have given to their study of music. When asked about the impact music has on their lives, each teen had a unique response:

“I love music because it helps me to grow as a person,” said Jeanae Mie Kaneshiro, a Punahou School student. “It helps me to develop discipline, courage, confidence, responsibility, and determination. In addition, music gives me a gift to share with others.”

“Why do I love the piano?” said Joyce Wang, a Kalani High School student. “What isn’t there to love? When my fingers press down on the keys, I am home.”

“I love to play music because I get to use a different voice from the one with which I speak,” said Celia Ou, an Iolani School student. “It says things that we normally can’t say when we’re just talking.”

“You can learn of one’s personality and thoughts through music before they introduce themselves,” said Taylor Yasui, a Kamehameha High School student.

“I have learned so many important lessons about life through my piano lessons and activities,” said Bolin Chang, an Iolani School student. “Performing before audiences is profoundly rewarding as well as exciting.”

“I love music because it helps relax me from my very stressful school days,” said Tiffany Cheung, an Iolani School student. “I encourage everyone to learn a musical instrument.”

Each of the six April education concerts, led by Maestro Stuart Chafetz, will feature one Youth Concerto winner as soloist, as well as a program of music designed in partnership with the Weill Music Institute of Carnegie Hall. The music highlights this year’s Communities LinkUP! program in local schools, which is provided by the Honolulu Symphony. In this program, children sing, learn to read music, play the recorder, and examine American music through the spirit, ideals, and history of its people.

Education Concerts with Youth Concerto Competition Winners:

Bolin Chang, piano – Iolani School student
Thursday, April 9, 9:30 a.m.
Bolin will play the first movement of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F (Allegro).
Bolin studies piano with Ernest Chang. He also plays viola for Iolani Orchestra and is a “Headmaster’s List” student. He has performed throughout Oahu, with appearances at Pohai Nani, Arcadia, Central Union Church, Orvis Auditorium and the Hawaii Theatre.

Taylor Yasui, cello – Kamehameha High School student
Thursday, April 9, 10:45 a.m.
Taylor will play the first movement of Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, B. 191, Op. 104 (Allegro).
Taylor studies cello with Lifen Anthony. He is a member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony and the Kamehameha Schools Sinfonietta. He also enjoys learning to play different instruments such as the violin and piano.

Jeanae Mie Kaneshiro, violin – Punahou School student
Tuesday, April 28, 9:30 a.m.
Jeanae will play the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (Allegro molto appassionato).
Jeanae studies violin with James Stanford. She is a member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony, the Punahou Symphony, Suzuki Talent Education Hawaii, and various chamber music groups. In addition to violin, she plays the piano.

Celio Ou, violin – Iolani School student
Tuesday, April 28, 10:45 a.m.
Celia will play the third movement of Saint-Saens’ Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 (Molto moderato e maestoso).
Celia studies violin with Sheryl Shohet. She is a member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony and is concertmaster in Youth Symphony 1. Celia also enjoys playing in Na Mele O Suzuki, Iolani Orchestra V, and the Iolani chamber music program.

Joyce Wang, piano – Kalani High School student
Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.
Joyce will play the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K. 595 (Allegro).
Joyce studies piano with Peter Coraggio. She has played numerous times in venues throughout Hawaii, including Pohai Nani, Arcadia, Mozart House and Orvis Hall at the University of Hawaii.

Tiffany Cheung, piano – Iolani School student
Wednesday, April 29, 10:45 a.m.
Tiffany will play the first movement of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major (Allegramente).
Tiffany studies piano with Dr. Thomas Yee. She is a member of the Iolani Orchestra and is the co-president of the Gift of Music Club in Iolani, a community service-oriented club that performs in various retirement homes. Tiffany also studies violin.

Honolulu Symphony Education and Outreach programs are made possible through support from:

• The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawaii
• The National Endowment for the Arts
• The Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall
• Office of Hawaiian Affairs for the Nanakuli Elementary “MAP” (Music Acceleration Program")

Additional support for education touring programs is provided by Federal TANF Funds administered through the Hawai'i State Department of Human Services.

In addition, annual interest income is provided through the Honolulu Symphony Foundation’s permanent Endowment thanks to:

• The Bretzlaff Foundation’s Hazel Van Allen Fund
• The Cooke Foundation’s Dora Cooke Derby Educational Fund
• The Gaye S. Glaser Fund for Youth Music Education
• The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Youth Education Programs
• The Arthur and Mae Orvis Endowment Fund for the Honolulu Symphony

The Symphony also graciously acknowledges the generous support of The Mary D. and Walter F. Frear Eleemosynary Trust Fund for Youth Education Programs.