A Collaboration between Ohana Jazz and HYS Jazz
The Jazz Side-by-Side concert is a joint performance by professional and youth Jazz ensembles. These programs provide young aspiring musicians with the invaluable experience of performing alongside masterful improvisors and the opportunity to learn about the paid profession of music.
Side-by-Side is an initiative utilized by many notable organizations such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. While you may be familiar with our orchestral Side-by-Side partnership with Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, we are excited to be extending the program to our beyond-classical students in collaboration with the Musicians’ Association of Hawaiʻi.
“This performance will be a great opportunity for Jazz I and II to play not only with HYS jazz faculty, but also with additional professional musicians [including] Abraham Lagrimas Jr., Allen Won, and Robert Shinoda, in front of a live audience composed of family, friends, other music students, and Jazz fans.” -Dean Taba, Director of HYS Jazz
Join Us for Our Concert!
Our first-ever Jazz Side-by-Side concert will be performed by Ohana Jazz, featuring Allen Won, Abe Lagrimas, Robert Shinoda, HYS Jazz faculty, and the students of Jazz I and II.
WHEN: Thursday, November 30, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 PM
WHERE: Studio 909 (Musicians’ Association Building), 949 Kapiolani Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
WHO:
Ohana Jazz (Allen Won, Abe Lagrimas, Robert Shinoda)
HYS Faculty (Dean Taba, Noel Okimoto, Ryan Howe)
Jazz I (Alex Tripp, Brody Nakasone, Carter Nobuhara, Dezi Maurer, Kai Machida)
Jazz II (Ash Bu, Dena Brennan, Eli Wolfe, Henry Powell, Isato Kimura, Kiron Toma, Liam McCabe, Max Chin, Mitchell Denton, Rod Del Carpio, Verily Coryell)
TICKETING: $10 admission + BYO food and beverages
Can’t make it? We plan to hold additional Jazz Side-by-Side concerts in the future, so stay tuned for announcements by following us on social media. We hope you can join us next time!
We hope to see you at Studio 909 to celebrate our wonderful Jazz musicians from Hawaiʻi! Please invite your family and friends and help us spread the word.
Mahalo to Our Sponsors
We are so grateful to Noel and Liane Okimoto as well as the Musicians’ Association of Hawaiʻi for generously sponsoring this project and for believing in our mission.
Jazz in Hawaiʻi
Jazz, though often associated with areas of the Continental U.S. like New Orleans or New York, is actually one of the most celebrated genres in the Hawaiʻi music scene. The improvisational and polyrhythmic style that defines jazz embodies a musical freedom that is enjoyed by many here in Hawaiʻi. Since its introduction to the Islands in the 1930s, jazz has taken on a life of its own with the incorporation of local music styles and popular instruments like the ʻukulele.
More about HYS Jazz
HYS Jazz was established in 2018 with the goal of allowing music students to explore beyond classical music. The program is led by HYS Jazz Director Dean Taba with support from faculty members Noel Okimoto and Ryan Howe.
HYS Jazz is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to play as a rhythm section, accompany others, and improvise. We are also dedicated to exposing students to the entrepreneurial aspects of pursuing music professionally or working in the music industry by providing them with access to audio engineers, professional musicians, and music business gurus! In its short history, HYS Jazz has collaborated with highly acclaimed artists such as HSO concertmaster Ignace Jang, ʻukelele extraordinaire Jake Shimabukuro, trumpeter DeShannon Higa, saxophonist Steve Treseler, and vocalists Amy Hānaiali‘i, Raiatea Helm, Shari Lyn, and John Valentine!
Why Side-by-Side?
The Jazz Side-by-Side concert exemplifies our mission to foster fun and creative experiences for youth that inspire a deep appreciation for music and lifelong relationships within the culture of our islands. Our goal is to help young aspiring musicians fuel their passion for music by connecting them with local professionals who can act as mentors and provide them valuable insight into the world of music.
Interested in more concerts?
Join our mailing list to receive emails about upcoming concerts!
Alternatively, you can follow us on social media @hiyouthsymphony to stay in the loop!