ARTISTS

Honolulu Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus
Esther S. Yoo, conductor
              

CONCERT

HO‘OMAIKA‘I – A CELEBRATION!
Wednesday, November 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Blaisdell Concert Hall
 

PROGRAM

J. S. BACH: Magnificat
BRITTEN: A Ceremony of Carols
RUTTER: Gloria
 

TICKETS

FREE Concert
No tickets required.  
Further information is available from the Oahu Choral Society by
calling (808) 524-0815, ext. 257 or symphonychorus@gmail.com.
www.oahuchoral.com

Honolulu – This Thanksgiving, Hawai`i’s most radiant voices come together for “Ho'omaika'i – A Celebration!” – a free community concert on Wednesday, November 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Presented by the Oahu Choral Society (Honolulu Symphony Chorus), the family-friendly concert welcomes music lovers of all ages and features classic holiday choral music in a relaxed setting. Special guests, the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, join the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and Orchestra for this festive evening that celebrates the inspiration of Thanksgiving. Musical highlights include J.S. Bach’s Magnificat, Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and John Rutter’s Gloria. “Ho'omaika'i – A Celebration!” is also an exceptional opportunity for families to introduce the experience of live, choral music to older children. No tickets or reservations are required.
 
“During these challenging economic times, it remains vital that people of all ages and income levels have access to the enriching experience of music-making,” said Valerie Ossipoff, president of the board of directors, Oahu Choral Society. “This year, the Oahu Choral Society has expanded its annual free Thanksgiving concert to a larger venue – the Blaisdell Concert Hall – to offer more people the opportunity to learn about, and be inspired by, live choral music. We eagerly look forward to sharing the joys of holiday music with an enthusiastic audience.”
 
“Ho'omaika'i – A Celebration!” also introduces Esther S. Yoo, the newly-appointed director of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, to the community. A versatile conductor and pianist, Dr. Yoo has worked extensively with numerous children’s and high school choirs, community and church choirs, and student and professional orchestras around the world. Prior to her appointment with the Chorus, Dr. Yoo held faculty positions as Director of Choral Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and at Hollins University in Virginia.  
 
“Esther Yoo is a rising star of choral conducting whose excellent reputation on the international level and extensive experience made her the ideal choice to lead the Honolulu Symphony Chorus into the next decade,” said Ossipoff. “We are honored to welcome her to the Chorus ohana as we open our performance season with our Thanksgiving outreach concert.” 
 
Additional information is available from the Oahu Choral Society by calling (808) 524-0815, ext. 257 or symphonychorus@gmail.com.

About Dr. Esther Yoo
Dr. Esther S. Yoo is the newly appointed Artistic Director of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus. A native of Toronto, Canada, she holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. She received her undergraduate degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Conducting, both from the University of Toronto studying with Raffi Armenien and Doreen Rao.  
 
In addition, Dr. Yoo graduated with an Artist Diploma in piano from the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and has studied extensively with Russian pianist Vera Gornostaeva.  As a pianist, she has appeared in festivals and masterclasses in France, Austria and Switzerland and has given recitals in Germany, France and Italy.  
 
As a conductor, Dr. Yoo was invited as a conducting fellow at the Oregon Bach Festival and Toronto Bach Festival with Maestro Helmuth Rilling. She has worked extensively with choirs and orchestras throughout the world, including University of Toronto Women’s Chorus, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Blue Ash Presbyterian Church, and Belvoir Terrace Orchestra. Dr. Yoo has also participated in conducting master classes with Robert Shaw, Sir David Willcocks, Harry Christophers, Stephen Darlington and Dale Warland. Her professional choral singing experience includes having sung under the batons of Robert Shaw, James Levine, James Conlon and Helmuth Rilling, among others. 
 
A recipient of the prestigious Elmer Iseler Scholarship at the University of Toronto, Dr. Yoo has also conducted professional performances with Canada’s professional chamber choir, The Elmer Iseler Singers. Equally at home teaching college students, Dr. Yoo has toured internationally with her choir at Hollins University. As an advocate for contemporary choral music, she has premiered new choral music at every opportunity, working with students and faculty at the University of Toronto, University of Cincinnati, and University of Hawaii at Manoa.  
 
Prior to her appointment to the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, Dr. Yoo held faculty positions as Director of Choral Studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa and at Hollins University in Virginia. Currently, she serves as the Music Director at Christ United Methodist Church where she directs two choral ensembles, and is also active as guest clinician, adjudicator and conductor.