The Big Show
November 9th, 2009 by Alan OkamiI'm not talking about a WWE wrestler here. HYS (Hawaii Youth Symphony) is putting on its gala Na Mele event this weekend at Hilton's Coral Ballroom. The evening will feature the season closing performance by 95 fine young men and women of HYS. BTW, they're all high school age.
Maestro Henry Miyamura celebrates his 25th year as the conductor of HYS and we also celebrate the 45th year of the organization. Two big events!
Serious stuff here. These kids give it their all and make some beautiful music. Whenever I listen to them, I always get moved to tears. I am blown away by their professionalism and how they make each piece come alive. Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, you guys would be sooo proud.
Look how cute! They're all so well behaved. HYS has also started a blog. log on to HYS's website
and read some of the happenings with us. Yes, I blog for them too.
http://www.hiyouthsymphony.org (sorry, gotta learn how to hyperlink - Melissa - HELP!)
Hana hou? Yes, this year's featured performer is Uncle Willie K. He's back by popular demand. Oh man, this guy is talented. Forget Kachi Kachi Music, we're talking opera AND done well. Not so easy, y'know...
Call HYS and come out to support music in the youth of Hawaii. Arts are suffering and no one will notice until the music is gone. Let's not let that happen. $85 gets you a fabulous dinner and a show that is on par with excellence.
For those on a budget, listen in to KINE 105.1 for a chance to win both tickets to the event and a KoAlana Ukulele by yours truly, the folks at KoAloha Ukulele. (It's our starter models) See you at the symphony!
November 10th, 2009 at 4:44 am
My wife was in HYS for a few years. She really enjoyed it. It's a really great organization.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:13 am
I enjoy listening to the youths play. My son played the Clarinet in Middle school then percussion in High School. That is until they didn't offer band as an elective
The only band they offer is Morning Jazz Band (before school) and the Marching band (after school practice). My son is already in Audio Visual, Robotics and goes to an Electronic class at a another high school so he had to choose and gave up band 
He still play around with the piano at home. Kudos to those youths.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Looks like it was lots of fun.
Aloha,
Keahi
November 11th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Nathan,
Son of a gun, I would have loved to be a part of HYS. Unfortunately, my father's talents in music stopped with him
Ynaku,
Hard choices. Gotta go where the most passion is. That way, less regrets. Music can always come later and it will stick around for the rest of his life. Robotics? Go for it, that won't always be around
Keahi Pelayo,
Actually, it's this weekend. These are photos from the practice at UH. Come on down
November 17th, 2009 at 11:17 am
First time poster as my buddy Ynaku told me to check this blog out.
I was with the Youth Symphony in the late 70's. Also played with the Hawaii Junior Orchestra prior to that........are they still around? That was the "feeder" group.
Not sure which group I was with but Iolani Luahine was the featured artist at one of our concerts.....a "legend" of hula. I swear when she walked into the room there was this "aura" about her.
Good to know that the organization is alive and well. Thanks for bringing back some good memories!
OL
November 17th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Ocean Lover,
Wow, good to hear from an HYS alum. Do you know we also started a blog for hys? The organization is doing pretty well, despite the cutbacks on gov't funding. Thanks to the core of faithful supporters. Stop by Ka Leo anytime, thanks for reading.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:27 am
I just wanted to thank you very much for this illuminating article. I have already bookmarked your site, when I have more free time I am going to have to do some further browsing. Well back to my dreaming of Panama or back to the books - I wonder which one is going to win out.