Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the internationally-recognized Hakuoh University Handbell Choir will be on Oʻahu from February 13–15 for its 22nd Goodwill Tour of Hawaiʻi, offering public concerts and scheduled performances for friends of Hakuoh University and more than 500 Oʻahu school children. Led by acclaimed director Hirotaka Arai, who founded the choir in 1988, the 20 student handbell ringers will perform at three free public concerts.
The choir will perform a range of selections from classical standards including Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro to contemporary hits from the musical The Lion King. The choir has the capacity to ring seven octaves of handbells, and their dedication to practice and performance has created worldwide demand for their music.
In February 2008, Hakuoh University signed an international cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges. The annual Handbell Choir Concert, co-sponsored by Hakuoh University and the UH Community Colleges, is one of the cooperative activities undertaken by the two institutions.
Schedule of performances
- February 13, 7 p.m. at Windward Community College’s Palikū Theatre
- February 14, 10 a.m. at Leeward Community College Theatre
- February 15, 7 p.m. at United Church of Christ, 467 North Judd St., Honolulu
The public performances are free. For more information about the choir’s performances, call (808) 956-0321.
