Youth Symphony Free Performance

By Maesyn

In this day and age, music and art are being stripped from the school system at an alarming rate.

It has been well documented in scientific studies that music and arts immersion are crucial for the development of children’s emotional and intellectual faculties.

Children perform with greater skill in the fields of math and writing once their minds have been expanded to understand the mystical language of music and how it relates to patterns and emotional expressions of experience. Learning to use music as an outlet for emotional expression can be a liberating, healing factor for troubled children.

Since the system is stripping these crucial programs from the academic calendar, it is up to the visionary gatekeepers of wisdom in the community to step in and create educational programs for children.

The Hawai’i Youth Symphony Program is just such a creation.

Hawaii Youth Orchestra (file photo)

HYS offers free concerts to the community throughout the year, as well as performances by youth, for the youth. They also organize community outreach events, playing in elderly homes, hospitals, and other community venues.

Over 100 youth members of the symphony will be offering their free winter concert to the public this Monday, February 21st at 7 pm at the MACC’s Castle Theater. It will entail a diverse program of contemporary pops pieces, Hawaiian musical selections, and classical symphonies.

This special concert will feature a guest appearance by local musical hero, Willie K.

Willie K (file photo)

Hawai’i Youth Symphony offers its program to students from any school throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It services around 700 students from various walks of life and different age groups. Ages 5-18 years are welcome to participate in the program.

As the Symphony requires a great deal of commitment and responsibility, it is a wonderful way for youth to learn an invaluable skill, while committing to a collective vision. The students are required to take private lessons to enhance their musical abilities, in addition to participation in the frequent symphonic rehearsals.

Obviously this is an undertaking that requires financial resources. As many students are not able to contribute financially, scholarships are provided to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to thrive within the sphere of music.

Each season of the Symphony ends up requiring a contribution of over $1,000 per student. The cost is funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships, private foundations, fundraising activities, and individual donors.

Should you wish to contribute, you may contact the organization and make a donation

Current angel sponsors include:

Jonathan Y. C. Ching Revocable Trust
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation
Mayor’s Office on Culture and the Arts
City & County of Honolulu,
ABC Stores
Cades Foundation
The Hot Topic Foundation
John R. Halligan Charitable Fund
McInerny Foundation
Macy’s Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
The Thomas J. Long Foundation
Toyota Hawaii

For a dose of musical medicine, and a vision of inspiration, come witness these youngsters coming together for a common cause – your entertainment!

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