Dane Lam begins as the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra’s music director—its first—this summer.
In Sunday’s (7/9) Star Advertiser (HI; subscription required), Steven Mark writes, “The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra enters a new era this summer with the arrival of maestro Dane Lam as music director and conductor. It will be the first time since the orchestra emerged from bankruptcy 11 years ago that it will have a resident music director fully engaged in the local music scene…. Lam will be conducting most of its concerts, both the classical Halekulani Masterworks series and the pops Hapa Symphony series; offstage, he plans to work with local music educators, composers and community music programs to raise the profile of the orchestra and orchestral music…. Lam will be on the podium at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell on Aug. 5 for a preseason concert, titled ‘Dane’s Ultimate Season Mix-Tape,’ before plunging into the regular season in October…. Lam expects it to take time to develop a sonic identity for the symphony, which has seen a parade of guest conductors … as it emerged rebranded after the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra declared bankruptcy … His programming already reflects an appreciation for the rich musical variety of the islands and the Pacific region…. The Starlight Series concludes on Aug. 12 with the return of JoAnn Falletta, now the symphony’s conductor emeritus.”
