Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1964, the 2024-2025 season marks our 60th year of Hawaii Youth Symphony! In honor of this milestone, we’re sharing the history behind our why, bidding farewell to our 2023-2024 season, and celebrating our community members’ recent accomplishments. Our Roots: Why Our Nonprofit Music Education Organization Was Founded “Many schools and underserved areas don’t have music programs, and we feel everyone should have the opportunity to learn music.” – Past board member Roy E. King, Jr.  King was an instrumental figure in the 1964 incorporation of HYS. He wit ..read more

Music has a unique power to bridge gaps, foster connections, and nurture communities. Hawaii Youth Symphony strives to be part of a national movement and advocate for a more musical future for all children. In order to achieve this, HYS President and CEO Randy Wong travels to cities all over the country in order to be part of the conversation around the future of music education and bring home insights to continue to improve our programming here in Hawaiʻi. Q & A with Randy Wong, HYS President and CEO Through this blog post, Randy Wong shares these valuable lessons and discusses how w ..read more

School’s out for the summer! As the end of the school year approaches, parents and guardians are always on the lookout for engaging activities to keep their kids busy and enriched during the break. Summer activities can make a huge difference for young children and adolescents alike, and that’s why we make music year-round! Read on to learn about the impact of summer activities on youth development. Preventing Learning Loss There is a phenomenon sometimes known as summer slide, where students experience academic and social setbacks over the summer that may have long-term impacts on thei ..read more

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that music brings people together! One of the biggest events of the Hawaii Youth Symphony season is our annual neighbor island tour. Each year, our most advanced students bring their passion for orchestral music to different communities across the islands. Over the past 60 years, we have visited Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, and Molokaʻi to perform concerts that are totally free for the public to attend! Why Free Concerts? HYS is a nonprofit organization, and it’s very important to us that the majority of our concerts are offered free of charge. Why? N ..read more

Like many youth orchestras, some of our ensembles are audition-only, but don’t be intimidated! While auditions can be nerve-wracking, they’re a great way for young musicians to step outside of their comfort zone and grow, both musically and personally. Why participate in an audition? In a collaborative environment like an orchestra, the talent level of your peers pushes you to play at a higher level. Auditions help us match students with the ensemble that is best suited to their skill level, encouraging them to continue to progress. Playing in an orchestra with a repertoire that is too ..read more

Our nonprofit organization’s administration team is instrumental in ensuring that our programs run smoothly and that our music teachers have the support they need. Programs Director Hannah Watanabe oversees all the things that make our 19 different ensembles and classes possible, while also conducting two of our orchestras. Let’s learn more about Hannah! Alumni Make Amazing Staff! Hannah Watanabe has been involved with HYS since she was in 9th grade, and has been one of our Symphony Program conductors since 2007! As a high school student, her love for music was nurtured under the baton of ..read more

Music is one of the most powerful tools for bringing people together, and the city of Honolulu is proving that to be true. Music helps unite Honolulu’s generations, building relationships and creating a community for all ages to enjoy. “Music bridges generations, bringing people together. Hawaii Youth Symphony nurtures intergenerational connections, harmonizing diverse ages through the universal language of music,” says Randy Wong, Hawaii Youth Symphony’s President & CEO. “At HYS, we believe that music is a right, and that means that everyone should have the opportunity to experience it ..read more

The 2023 season for Hawaii Youth Symphony was one to remember. After slowly returning to in-person rehearsals, concerts, and activities in 2021 and 2022, we jumped into 2023 determined to fully bring back long-standing traditions while also introducing exciting new programs. From the return of beloved concerts to the launch of innovative initiatives, the season was a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Here’s a quick look at some of our most exciting moments this year.  January 2023- New after-school music class In January, Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra percussionist Christopher ..read more

No matter who you are or where you live, you should have access to music education! Since there are many communities across our island chain that have limited access, we strive to make music accessible to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn an instrument. Through our 2023 He Makana O Nā Mele: The Gift of Music fundraiser, our goal is to raise money and awareness to be able to grow our outreach programs.  Though often overlooked by school systems nationwide, the arts are a crucial part of a well-rounded education. Keep reading to learn more about what outreach mean ..read more

Wow! Can you believe itʻs been five years? In 2018, our Hawaii Youth Symphony staff and board of directors came together to create a five year plan. This strategic planning process is crucial in shaping the future of our nonprofit organization. Now that it’s time to set our goals for the next five years, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves five years ago and share our progress with our community. Our five year goals In the past five years, our major goals fell into 4 categories: access, achievement, talent, and free concerts. Here’s the short version of ..read more