HAWAII YOUTH SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION

THE HAWAII YOUTH SYMPHONY (HYS), HAWAII'S ONLY STATEWIDE YOUTH ORCHESTRA ORGANIZATION, EDUCATES YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 7-18 THROUGH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMS. HYS OPERATES ACTIVITIES OF YOUTH OF ALL GEOGRAPHIC AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUNDS WITH A GOAL OF PROVIDING ANY INTERESTED YOUNG PERSON WITH THE CHANCE TO LEARN A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, PLAY IN AN ENSEMBLE, AND CULTIVATE THEIR PERSONAL EXCELLENCE. MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS FOR STUDENTS OF ANY LEVEL EXIST: FROM GENERAL MUSIC CLASSES IN UKULELE, BUCKET DRUMMING, VIOLIN, AND STRINGS, TO INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED STRING ORCHESTRAS, JAZZ ENSEMBLES, THREE FULL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS, CHAMBER MUSIC, AND MORE. A SUMMER MUSIC INTENSIVE CALLED THE PACIFIC MUSIC INSTITUTE PROVIDES FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND AIMS TO CLOSE THE OPPORTUNITY GAPS PRESENT IN SUMMER LEARNING. HYS OFFERS AN OVERNIGHT DORMING OPTION, WHICH ALLOWS STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER O'AHU AND HAWAII THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND PMI. A ROBUST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS TO ENSURE THAT ANY INTERESTED STUDENT CAN TAKE PART, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING ON NEIGHBOR ISLANDS. THIS SEASON HYS SERVED OVER 800 STUDENTS FROM OVER 100 PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND HOME SCHOOLS ACROSS KAUAI, OAHU, MAUI, AND HAWAII COUNTIES. STUDENTS ATTENDED OVER 400 IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CLASSES, REHEARSALS, AUDITION WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, MASTERCLASSES, AND RECORDING SESSIONS. HYS HELD "LISTEN & LEARN" SCHOOL CONCERTS THAT WERE ENDORSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. HYS PRODUCED OVER 50 IN-PERSON CONCERTS FEATURING ITS STUDENTS FROM CLUBHOUSE, ACADEMY, SUPER STRINGS, BUCKET DRUMMING, SYMPHONY, JAZZ, AND OTHER PROGRAMS.