Intermediate and advanced HYS string, wind, brass, and percussion students may develop their musical skills in small, conductor-less ensembles known as chamber ensembles. (String quartets, brass quintets, woodwind quartets or quintets, and percussion ensembles are all popular formats for chamber music.)
Chamber music experiences help students to develop leadership, communication, consensus-building, and democratic skills, while also teaching important musical concepts and musical literature. Students are rotated/selected for these ensembles by the Music Director and conducting staff.
If scheduling permits, a coach will be assigned to the group. Our chamber coaches are often sourced from the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Royal Hawaiian Band, private instructors, and UH faculty members.
Our summer Pacific Music Institute has an introductory chamber music curriculum, that all students participate in. HYS chamber ensembles perform only at free, public events, with preference to events provided by a season sponsor. Some recent performances have included:
- the Hawaii State Legislature‘s Arts at the Capitol event
- the City & County’s Mango Jam (sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Culture & the Arts)
- the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture & the Arts events
- HYS Alumni Chamber Music recitals on First Fridays
HYS does not provide chamber ensembles for private parties (like weddings).
For more information about HYS chamber music ensembles, please email HYS at admin@hiyouthsymphony.org.
