Hawaii Recap: Part 1
It’s about time we shared some updates from our recent Hawaii adventures! We had the best time performing, working with students, and exploring Oahu and the Big Island. Mahalo nunui to all who made this project possible, including our Hawaiian partners and audiences, Chamber Music America, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Missouri State University, and individual donors!
We began our trip in Honolulu, where we worked with our commissioned composers Takuma Itoh, Michael-Thomas Foumai, and Byron Yasui and presented their music and works by Tonia Ko in a concert at University of Hawaii-Manōa. Presenting music that was written by composers in Hawaii, inspired by Hawaiian topics, and performed in Hawaii made for a really special Hawaiian premiere. Thank you to our composers who joined us on stage to speak so passionately and eloquently about their music and connection to this amazing place.
While in Honolulu we also performed for and spoke about our project with university music students and Hawaii Public Radio, worked with percussion students at Niu Valley Middle School, and took a quick break for a Diamond Head hike and some beach time!
