The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Dane Lam. Photo courtesy of Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra.
In Friday’s (4/4) Hawaii News Now, host Billy V states, “Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra does amazing work playing alongside our Hawaii entertainers, lifting each other up…. We’re talking with Meli James, president of Hawaii Venture Capital Association and co-founder of Mana Up; Kimie Minor is a producer, singer, songwriter, and owner of Haku Collective; and Dr. Michael-Thomas Foumai is director of artistic engagement and Kosasa composer in residence at the Hawai‘i Symphony. James: ‘Haku Collective and Mana Up have been partners for the past five years. Kimye selects a handful of local musicians—young rising stars—who audition, and they wind up performing on our Mana Up Showcase and on our broadcast with Hawaii News Now. Through that there’s a people’s choice award, where people vote, and the winner gets to perform with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra … These kids get to have a hundred-piece orchestra backing them in the Hawaii Theatre, the ultimate venue.’ ” The host and Foumai also discuss a bill currently pending in the state legislature that will earmark support for the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra to provide free access to concerts and enhance music education statewide.
