It is time to “strike up the band.” The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu University Band, University Strings, University Chorus and Hawaiian Ensemble are holding fall auditions.
University Chorus
The UH West Oʻahu University Chorus (MUS 114), under the direction of Justin Kaʻupu, welcomes community and high school musicians in addition to UH West Oʻahu students, faculty and staff. Members will spend the term singing a variety of beautiful choral music, improving vocal technique, musicianship, and listening and ensemble skills. Monday rehearsals run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at UH West Oʻahu. The ability to read music is not required.
For more information, go to the music website or contact Kaʻupu at jkaupu@hawaii.edu or Associate Professor Jon Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.
University Band
Chadwick Kamei, Pearl City High School director of bands, and leader of the award-winning Pearl City High School “Charger” Marching Band, will co-teach the UH West Oʻahu University Band (MUS 419) course with maestro Michael Nakasone, former bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band. Instruction will take place in the Pearl City High School band room on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Eligible band members include:
- UH West Oʻahu students, faculty, staff, and community members with band experience,
- Oʻahu high school band junior or senior students participating in the Department of Education Running Start program that offers simultaneous high school and college credit; or Early Admission program that offers college credit only and
- Hawaiʻi State Department of Education teachers taking MUS 419 for teacher reclassification credit.
All interested participants should contact Kamei at ckamei@hawaii.edu to schedule an audition.
Hawaiian Ensemble
The UH West Oʻahu Hawaiian Ensemble (MUS 211/MUS 311) is open to all students who can sing or play an instrument. Directed by Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner, kumu Bobby Moderow of Maunalua, students work in small groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:50 p.m. to create arrangements in the nahenahe (sweet, gentle) style and practice group performances, honing their kani ka pila (style of Hawaiian music playing in an impromptu group jam session) skills as collaborative musicians.
For more information, contact Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.
University Strings
The UH West Oʻahu University Strings (MUS 410H) performs beautiful string orchestra literature from a variety of eras, including work from today’s composers and arrangements of well-loved tunes. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30pm in Room D-237 through December 6.
For more information, go to the music website or contact Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.
For more information on all the programs, go to the UH West Oʻahu news release.
—By Leila Wai Shimokawa
