UH West O‘ahu to start first-ever concert band this spring

O'ahu high school students, UHWO students, community members with band experience may apply

University of Hawaiʻi-West Oʻahu
Contact:
Julie Funasaki Yuen, (808) 689-2604
Public Info Officer, Communications Department
Posted: Dec 9, 2013

The University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu will start its first-ever concert band this spring through a partnership with Pearl City High School. 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 O‘ahu University Band (MUS 419) course. UHWO students and community members with band experience, as well as O‘ahu high school band students participating in the Department of Education Running Start program that offers simultaneous high school and college credit, are eligible to take the course and become members of the UH West O‘ahu band.

“The band is one of the many exciting things happening here at the University that enhances the student life experience,” said UH West O‘ahu Chancellor Rockne Freitas. “We are proud to invite community members and high school students from across the state to join in this collaborative endeavor and become part of the UH West O‘ahu ‘ohana.”

“We’re very happy to support our musically-inclined students with this new course offering, and we thank the Pearl City High School administration and Chadwick Kamei for their help in making this band a reality,” said UH West O‘ahu Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Jon Magnussen.

Magnussen heads up the University’s music program which will offer a variety of courses this spring, including University Chorus (MUS 114) open to UH West O‘ahu students, faculty, staff and community members, Hawaiian Ensemble (MUS 311), Beginning ‘Ukulele (MUS 121Z), Beginning Slack Key (MUS 121F) and more.

“I am honored and grateful to be a part of this endeavor and to provide a music education in which members will perform music at the highest quality possible,” said Pearl City High School Director of Bands Chadwick Kamei. “I am excited about working with the members of this ensemble to make this an invaluable asset to the University and the State of Hawai‘i.”

Starting January 15, 2014, UH West O‘ahu University Band course instruction will take place in the Pearl City High School band room on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The band will perform an end-of-the-year concert and at UH West O‘ahu events. High school students interested in joining the UH West O‘ahu band should speak with their college counselor about applying for the Running Start program. All interested participants should contact Pearl City High School Director of Bands Chadwick Kamei at (808) 454-5655 to schedule an audition.

UH West O‘ahu became a four-year, regional comprehensive university when it served its first class of freshmen in fall 2007. The University offers quality education, small classes and personalized attention at convenient locations. UH West O‘ahu serves approximately 2,400 students at its brand new, state-of-the-art campus that opened in the City of Kapolei in 2012. For more information, visit uhwo.hawaii.edu, twitter.com/uhwestoahu, facebook.com/uhwestoahu or call (808) 689-2800 or toll-free (866) 299