Evan Fujimoto chose to attend the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa because it allowed him to stay close to his family and friends. So close that he rode his bike to campus every morning. Attending school on a band scholarship, Fujimoto originally wanted to major in music composition, but decided to change course and pursue biology.
“Everyone told me that the biggest, most difficult class to take was organic chemistry. That was the big thing looming over my head,” said Fujimoto. “I worked really hard. I was always going to my professor’s office hours. I was always in the library studying on holidays, winter break and everything.”
Along with juggling his studies with band responsibilities, he credits the process, focus and repetitions for sticking with him through his college years and even now in his professional career.
Bonded to the band
Fujimoto started to arrange music for the marching band in his senior year with his classmate Tyler Ono. The pair have been doing so ever since.
“Band played a huge role in my life, taught me a lot of things, taught me a lot of skills. This way I can still be active in the community,” Fujimoto said. “I hope that even when I’m 80 years old, I’m still writing music for these young students.”
Looking to pave the way
Fujimoto graduated in 2017 with a bachelor of science in biology and applied to medical school twice but was unsuccessful. He took that as a sign that he should pivot and started to focus on creative projects that eventually led him to work as a music producer and videographer.
Along the way he’s collaborated with K-pop artists, including the group Crossing Rain, internationally acclaimed trumpeter Eric Miyashiro and more.
“I think the biggest impact I want to make is to prove to people that good music does exist in Hawaiʻi,” said Fujimoto. “I didn’t think it was a possibility that I could write music for marching band until we did it. We hope now that students see us, our names under the top of the music sheets and think, ‘Wow they went to UH. Wow, they did it. I can do it too.’”
