Hawai‘i Youth Symphony

When the lights dim and the first notes ring out at a Hawai‘i Youth Symphony concert, what you’re hearing is the result of months of careful planning, excited discovery, and genuine passion for music. But how does a conductor decide which pieces make it onto the program? We sat down with Maestro Joseph Stepec, Director of Orchestral Activities and Youth Symphony I Conductor, to find out what goes into creating each concert experience.

“Usually what I try to do is determine what pieces of music are really important right now for youth to be playing,” Maestro Stepec explains. But it can’t just be good for learning, it has to light a fire. “On the other side of it, I try to find pieces that satisfy that, but also are very interesting to me. As a musician and as an artist, I know that I’m going to be able to put my best foot forward with music that I’m incredibly passionate about.”

Finding that sweet spot takes time. Maestro Stepec spends hours listening to music, researching composers, and exploring pieces he’s never conducted before. It’s all leading to one goal: “At the end of the day, it’s all about sharing this enthusiasm for the music with the students.”

When the conductor is genuinely excited about what’s on the music stand, that energy becomes contagious.

If you’ve been to an HYS concert, you might have noticed that the pieces seem to connect with each other in interesting ways. That’s no accident. “What I’m usually looking for in music selections are pieces that tell some kind of story, and what I try to find is how to establish some kind of thread between each piece based on that story,” Maestro Stepec shares.

Sometimes that thread comes from history—maybe two composers knew each other, or wrote their pieces during the same tumultuous time period. Other times, it’s about emotion or musical ideas that echo across different works. And sometimes, that story includes brand new works commissioned through the Keiko Sato New Music Fund, connecting students directly with living composers and reminding audiences that orchestral music isn’t just about the past, it’s being written right now.

“It’s usually a process that requires a lot of introspection and reflection about what these pieces of music really are about,” Maestro Stepec says.

The result? Concert programs that feel like a journey, where each piece builds on what came before.

Some of HYS’ most memorable moments happen when we step outside the traditional classical box. At our annual gala, Nā Mele: The Gift of Music, and during our Neighbor Island tour each February, we collaborate with special local guest artists, often musicians who specialize in Hawaiian music or jazz rather than classical repertoire.

“Collaborating with guest artists is probably one of my favorite aspects of my position here at the Hawai‘i Youth Symphony,” Maestro Stepec says with genuine enthusiasm. These partnerships create exciting creative challenges since everyone approaches music a bit differently. “Although the end goal is the same—we want to create music that’s really engaging and exciting and moving for the audience—the process to get there is a little bit different.”

Finding that common ground? That’s where the magic happens. “Usually when we’re rehearsing for these events, there’s a lot of discovery going on, and that’s probably the most fun part about it.”

Here’s something that might surprise you: even though HYS students rehearse their concert music for hours and hours, Maestro Stepec doesn’t want every performance to sound exactly the same. “I’m not the sort of musician where I would want to do the same thing the same way every time,” he explains.

His approach is about creating a strong foundation through “hours of thoughtful and disciplined rehearsal,” but then encouraging students to stay present and responsive during the actual performance. “We’re able to almost rethink something on stage, in the moment. And that’s what makes it really exciting for me.”

Some days a particular melody might hit differently. Some performances have a special energy that calls for something new. The goal is making music “in the moment from a place of knowledge, which comes from rehearsal and love for what it is as an art.”

Two years ago, Maestro Stepec was conducting Gershwin’s Cuban Overture in concert when something incredible happened. “I remember I was so shocked by the orchestra, because they were giving so much to the music. And it was so obvious. I actually mouthed, ‘Wow!’ while I was conducting, because it was just incredible.”

Those moments—when students surprise even their conductor with their passion and musicianship—are what it’s all about. “The students [in HYS] are really driven. They work really hard. They’re all really wonderful people,” he says warmly.

And the impact extends far beyond the concert hall. “It always makes me happy to run into former students who are in college or just after college, and see how they’re doing, and hear about how HYS has impacted their lives, which it always has, in one way or another.”

All of this thoughtful planning and joyful music-making comes to life throughout the year at concerts you can experience for yourself! Our Winter and Spring concert series are free and open to the public; they’re perfect for families wanting to introduce keiki to live orchestral music or for anyone who loves live performances. We also perform community concerts throughout the year, bringing music to neighborhoods across the state.

At our annual Nā Mele gala in the fall and during our February Neighbor Island tour, you’ll catch those special collaborations with local guest artists that bring different musical traditions together. And at our side-by-side concerts with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, you’ll see our students performing alongside professional musicians, a powerful reminder of where passion and dedication can lead.

Each concert represents months of discovery, creativity, and hard work. But most of all, it represents the joy that comes from making music together and sharing it with our community.

We hope to see you at the next one!