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Hawaii Youth Symphony

Hawaii Youth Symphony Announces A New Vision

HAWAII YOUTH SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES A NEW VISION
FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION AND ENHANCED COMMUNITY OUTREACH

 

HONOLULU (May 8, 2018) – Hawaii Youth Symphony (HYS) has announced an enhanced vision for the organization, building upon its tradition of helping children develop their fullest potential through orchestral music for more than 50 years. In addition to its acclaimed existing programs, new programs will roll out in the coming months—with an emphasis on ways to engage and inspire even more local communities while expanding opportunities to attract students from across the globe.

“A core principle of our vision is that making music is a right, not a privilege,” explains Randy Wong, executive director of Hawaii Youth Symphony. “To meet that promise, we must create more avenues to empower children everywhere with the joy, skills and character building that can come from learning and appreciating music.”

A refreshed take on the HYS logo and website will complement new initiatives, to include:

  • Neighbor Island Programs supporting and complementing existing musical communities.
  • Rural and Under-Resourced Community Programs serving communities in need of music education opportunities.
  • Artistic Expansions Programs designed to attract more students locally and abroad.

The Hawaii Youth Symphonyplans to work closely with neighbor island communities to better serve localized needs throughout its programs. It will also leverage a uniquely positioned geography to reach participants across the Pacific Rim and Asia, fostering its position as a global force in the Youth Orchestra community. In addition to classical music education, new programs will include opportunities for keiki to explore a variety of music and instruments, further celebrating the rich culture of the symphony’s island home.

“I’m delighted for what the future holds for our students through these important new initiatives and our ongoing programs,” said Dr. John Devlin, Hawaii Youth Symphony’s newly announced music director taking the helm next month. “Hawaii Youth Symphony’s commitment to investing in the development of young people is at the heart of this journey as we navigate new and wider channels to make music education accessible to all.”

Established as a non-profit organization in 1964, the Hawaii Youth Symphony promotes and celebrates the importance of music study for academic achievement and social-emotional development. Its programs service youth through orchestral music education, performances and community engagement. Each year, the organization serves more than 600 students ages 7 through 18 from over 100 schools statewide. For more information, call (808) 941-9706 or visit HiYouthSymphony.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Susan Wright
Vianca Cao
Becker Communications, Inc.
(808) 533-4165