Even with current social distancing restrictions, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Wind Ensemble is making and sharing music. The ensemble released its “Virtual Band” project on YouTube and Facebook.
Part of the UH Bands program, the UH Wind Ensemble has not been able to meet or rehearse in person since instruction at the campus moved online in March.
“We really miss rehearsing and making music together,” said Jeffrey Boeckman, director of bands and associate professor of music. “This ‘Virtual Band’ project was a way for us to stay connected and hopefully share a little aloha through our music.”
For the project, the students chose Queen Liliʻuokalani’s Aloha ʻOe, recording their parts separately at home. Malcolm Mekaru, sustainability data and communications specialist with the UH Office of Sustainability, volunteered to merge and edit all the videos together. The piece was arranged by Clarence Hayase and Steven Agasa for the Central District Band Festival.
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- UH West Oʻahu strings ensemble keeps the music going
The UH Wind Ensemble previously posted their performances of the Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds combined with animation from the project.
