About Us
HYS IN A NUTSHELL
HYS is Hawaii’s only statewide orchestra program for
youth. Each year, HYS serves approximately 600 students,
ages 8-18, from nearly 100 schools on different islands.
During the academic year, HYS operates three full-symphonic
orchestras and four string orchestras, instructing students
who are absolute beginners to the most accomplished young
musicians. Education and performance are key elements of
the HYS curriculum. During the summer months, HYS conducts
two outreach programs: Summer Strings geared toward elementary
school children; and the Pacific Music Institute (PMI),
a music immersion program for middle- and high-school students
from all islands of Hawaii, the mainland, and the Asia/Pacific
region.
HYS’s commitment to excellence requires students to audition each year for all groups except the two youngest string orchestras, Beginning Strings and Preparatory Strings, and our summer programs. Partial financial aid for registration fees, instrument rentals, and required private lessons assists many students who could not otherwise participate.
Typically, more than 16,000 seats are filled at 24 public performances during a regular season. The concert season includes free performances on Oahu and the neighbor islands. HYS also presents free Listen & Learn educational concerts for nearly 10,000 school children each year. These are Hawaii’s only symphony concerts by youth for youth.
HYS develops its curriculum around five core values:
- Lifelong Learning
- Musical Excellence
- Community Service
- Professionalism
- A Sound Future for Music
“My favorite thing about HYS is allowing me to challenge myself with orchestral music, a thing I cannot do at my current school because there is only a band, not an orchestra.” Leilehua High School string bassist
WHY WE DO IT
The understanding that music education contributes to general
learning is time-honored and supportable. Music students
do better than their non-musical counterparts in math, reading
and writing, and on SAT tests. The demands of weekly rehearsals
and multiple performances require responsibility, organization,
commitment, discipline, self-confidence, poise, and an ability
to listen to others. HYS also expects a high standard of
professionalism from its participants.
HYS fills a large gap in music education for Hawaii’s youth. Though music education has lasting, positive effects on childhood development and learning, the quality of HYS’s music program is not available in most public schools. Few music specialists exist at the elementary schools and only 15% of the state’s high schools offer any type of orchestral program. HYS provides a learning environment that fosters cooperation, communication and teamwork among students from many schools and cultural backgrounds. HYS collaborates with artists, musicians, composers, entertainers and arts groups throughout the state and beyond to give its students musical experiences they cannot find elsewhere. No music program in Hawaii offers as many opportunities to perform in professionally-produced concerts with other musical partners. These performances greatly enhance students’ musical understanding and expose them to a rare spectrum of presentation art forms.
“Exposure to classical music has helped me to grow in the way I’ve learned to read and interpret music.” – Kalani High School trombone player
HYS’S COMMITMENT
Music makes better communities. In addition to contributing
to the cultural richness of society, it is clearly associated
with academic and personal characteristics that correlate
with developing well-educated young people necessary to
preserve and carry forth the well-being of our communities.
By bringing together hundreds of youth from diverse backgrounds
and schools, HYS’s strength lies not only in its reputation
for unwavering musical excellence but in its ability to
create common bonds around orchestral music. HYS’s
commitment, however, goes beyond training young musicians.
HYS gives its students the skills for lifelong learning
and the foundation for becoming better citizens. By upholding
its tradition of musical excellence, HYS is making a significant
contribution to the future of music by developing new generations
of musicians, and audiences with an appreciation for their
music.
COST
The cost per child to participate in HYS’s regular
season is more than $1,100, significantly more than the
registration fees of $300 ($275 for the String Program).
The balance is funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships,
private foundations, fundraising activities, and individual
donors. Travel assistance for neighbor island students and
financial aid are available. HYS depends on its partners
and friends in the community to continue providing its quality
programming at affordable rates for Hawaii’s young
people. If you would like to support the young musicians
of HYS, please click here. Every gift counts.
NONPROFIT STATUS
The Hawaii Youth Symphony has been incorporated since 1964
and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
