Symphony Program
Joseph Stepec
Director of Orchestral Activities & PMI Artistic Director; Symphony+
Joseph Stepec came to Hawaii from Cleveland, OH in 2016. He is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Music Department. Under his direction, the University of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has premiered […]
Wayne Fanning
Conductor, Concert Orchestra; Symphony+
Wayne Fanning has performed with the Honolulu Symphony, Royal Hawaiian Band, Kamuela Philharmonic, Kona Chamber Orchestra, Maui Symphony, and the Hawaii County Band. He has served as a clinician and guest conductor for various middle and high school bands in […]
Elton Masaki
Conductor, Youth Symphony II; Symphony+
Elton Masaki holds a Bachelors of Education Degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in music from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Master of Music in Education Degree from Boston University. He is currently working on a […]
Susan Ochi-Onishi
Conductor, Youth Symphony II; Symphony+
Susan Ochi-Onishi has been with Kaimuki Middle since 1993, directing the Beginning and Advanced Concert Bands. Mrs. Ochi-Onishi graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1984 and a PDMUS Secondary Music Education […]
Hannah Watanabe
Conductor, Concert Orchestra; Symphony+
Hannah Watanabe is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she received a bachelor’s degree in music education. She is also a former member of the Hawaii Youth Symphony, in which she performed while a student at […]
Academy String Program
Chad Uyehara
Academy String Program Director; Conductor ISE & CSO; MITCH Nanakuli
Michael Lim
Conductor, BSE & SOE
Michael Lim is a dedicated music teacher and professional violinist. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, he began his musical career at the age of four with the piano, and started his violin studies at the age of seven. A […]
Jeff Hamano
Instructor, Summer Strings
Born and raised in Hawaii, Mr. Jeff Hamano has been teaching the Strings Orchestra program at Moanalua Elementary since 2009. He graduated from Kalani High School and received his Bachelors Degree in Music from the University of Hawaii Manoa where he […]
Music in the Clubhouse
Matt Momohara
Conductor, Clubhouse Band
A saxophonist, violinist, and guitarist, Mr. Momohara brings nearly 15 years of music education experience to the program He has taught at Aiea High School, Kalani High School, and Niu Valley Middle School. He has also performed in the UH […]
Joy Waikoloa
Teacher, Music4Kids General Music
Joy Waikoloa was born and raised in Honolulu. As a vocalist, she is known for versatility in her song selections, but her deepest passions lie with blues, R&B and jazz. Ms. Waikoloa graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa […]
Artistic Expansion Programs
Ignace Jang
Solo & String Quartet Program
A dedicated educator, Jang is on the faculty of the University of Hawaii and Punahou School. He spent much of his time ensuring the success of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival String Program before joining the Hawaii Youth Symphony. “It […]
Dean Taba
Director, HYS Jazz & Combo I; Jazz+
A highly regarded studio and freelance musician, Dean Taba began his musical studies on the piano at the age of 6 and played french horn in the Hawaii Youth Symphony. It was a desire to play in the high school […]
Ryan Howe
HYS Jazz - Combo II; Jazz+
Ryan Howe graduated from Maui High School and completed both his Bachelor’s in Music Education and Master’s in Bassoon Performance at the University of Hawaii. He currently teaches middle school band at Moanalua Middle School. Mr. Howe says: “I have […]
Noel Okimoto
Drum Set & Vibraphone
Born and raised in Honolulu, Noel Okimoto has been playing professionally since the age of ten. Noel’s primary instrument is the drum set, but is also an accomplished orchestral percussionist, vibraphonist, composer and clinician. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in […]
Administration
Randy Wong
President
Aris Doike
Director of Operations, ext. 200
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Aris Doike graduated from Moanalua High School and is an alumnus of Hawaii Youth Symphony. He received his musical training with a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a […]
Rudy Rückmann
Director of Advancement, ext. 300
Joseph Stepec
Director of Orchestral Activities & PMI Artistic Director; Symphony+
Joseph Stepec came to Hawaii from Cleveland, OH in 2016. He is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Orchestras at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Music Department. Under his direction, the University of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra has premiered […]
Jeremy Lawi
PMI General Manager, ext. 700
Jeremy Lawi earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Percussion Performance at the University of British Columbia and Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Music Education from the University of Hawaii. He currently serves as the music program head at Mid-Pacific Institute […]
Parker Nakamura
Assistant Operations Manager, ext. 202
Parker Nakamura is a 2017 graduate of Arizona State University and majored in trumpet performance with a concentration in orchestral studies under Regents’ Professor David Hickman. Parker currently teaches music at Pearl City High School and is a part time member […]
Justin Woo
Operations Assistant
Justin Woo is a student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where he is pursuing a Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Music. A 2015 graduate of Moanalua High School, he was a member in various enesembles offered […]