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Join the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu band, sing with the University Chorus and play guitar and sing in the Hawaiian Ensemble at UH West Oʻahu this fall.

university band performance
UH West Oʻahu University Band

University Band

The UH West Oʻahu University Band welcomes new members as the band continues its second season at the university. Chadwick Kamei, Pearl City High School director of bands, and leader of the award-winning Pearl City High School Charger Marching Band, will teach the UH West Oʻahu University Band (MUS 419) course.

Eligible band members

  • UH West Oʻahu students, faculty, staff and community members with band experience
  • Oʻahu high school band junior or senior students participating in the Department of Education Running Start program that offers simultaneous high school and college credit; or Early Admission program that offers college credit only
  • Hawaiʻi State Department of Education teachers taking MUS 419 for teacher reclassification credit.

All band members will receive UH West Oʻahu course credit for University Band MUS 419. Instruction begins August 26 and will take place in the Pearl City High School band room on Wednesday evenings, 6:30–8:30 p.m. High school students interested in joining the UH West Oʻahu band should speak with their college counselor about applying for the Running Start or Early Admission program. All interested participants should contact Kamei via email to schedule an audition.

University Chorus

The UH West Oʻahu University Chorus (MUS 114), under the direction of Karol Nowicki, also welcomes new members for its fall 2015 season. Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, August 25, with classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.–12:20 p.m. at UH West Oʻahu. The University Chorus welcomes community musicians in addition to UH West Oʻahu students, faculty and staff. Members will spend the term singing choral literature from the Renaissance to the present, improving vocal technique, musicianship and listening and ensemble skills. The ability to read music is not required.

Highlights of the fall semester include a collaborative concert with the University Band and the Hawaiian Ensemble on Saturday, November 28, 7 p.m. at the Pearl City Cultural Center.

For more information, contact UH West Oʻahu Assistant Professor of Music Jon Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu or Choral Director Karol Nowicki at karoln@hawaii.edu.

Hawaiian Ensemble

Now in its second year, UH West Oʻahu Hawaiian Ensemble (MUS 211/MUS 311) is open to all students who can sing or play an instrument. Directed by kumu Kamuela Kimokeo, students work in small groups on Tuesday and Thursdays, 12:30–1:50 p.m. to create arrangements in the nahenahe (sweet, gentle) style and practice group performances, honing their kani ka pila (style of Hawaiian music produced in a group setting during an impromptu jam session) skills as collaborative musicians.

At the end of the semester, students perform with a well-known local Hawaiian music artist. Past artists include Kawika Kahiapo, Bobby Moderow and Jerry Santos. The semester culminates with a collaborative concert with the University Band and University Chorus on Saturday, November 28, 7 p.m. at the Pearl City Cultural Center.

Hawaiian ensemble

For more information, contact Kimokeo at kamuelam@hawaii.edu or UH West Oʻahu Assistant Professor of Music Jon Magnussen at jonmagnu@hawaii.edu.

—By Julie Funasaki Yuen

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