PROGRAM NOTE

Over a hundred endemic birds once inhabited the Hawaiian Islands. Today, few residents of the Hawaiian Islands have even seen a native forest bird. Hawai‘i’s native birds continue to face a number of threats through diseases, loss of habitat, and competition with non-native species. Because surviving endemic forest bird species represent a considerable value to both the integrity of Hawai‘i’s natural ecosystems as well as cultural and intrinsic value, it is important to educate the importance of learning how to protect them. 

 

Coordinated by composer Takuma Itoh, Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds brings together six Hawai’i composers (Takuma Itoh, Michael-Thomas Foumai, Daniel Houglum, Jon Magnussen, Thomas Osborne and Donald Reid Womack) collaborating with visual artists to create a symphony program to educate Hawai’i’s youth on the history of native birds and what can be done to stem the tide of extinction.

 

Mālama (To Care For) is the final movement and a call to action. Bringing together art drawn by children across the state of Hawaiʻi and inspired by what we can do to protect our birds, a sweeping melody voices the message of our young artists and gives rise to a strong and repeating fanfare; a mantra that we must care and protect our very special bird friends.

 

For more information of the the complete work and educational program:

www.symphonyofhawaiianbirds.com

 

Watch the entire symphony with animation:

Hawaii Symphony Orchestra Performance

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Wind Ensemble Performance

 

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

March 1, 2020: University of Hawaiʻi Wind Ensemble; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor

February 26, 2020: Utah Symphony Orchestra; Connor Gray Covington, conductor

February 25, 2020: Utah Symphony Orchestra; Connor Gray Covington, conductor

February 24, 2020: Utah Symphony Orchestra; Connor Gray Covington, conductor

February 24, 2020: University of Hawaiʻi Wind Ensemble; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor

February 23, 2020: University of Hawaiʻi Wind Ensemble; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor

February 12, 2020: Utah Symphony Orchestra; Connor Gray Covington, conductor

February 11, 2020: Utah Symphony Orchestra; Connor Gray Covington, conductor

November 5, 2019: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor 

October 17, 2019: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor (2 performances)

November 14, 2018: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor 

November 1, 2018: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor (2 performances)

October 31, 2018: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor (2 performances)

May 9, 2018: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra; Jeffrey Boeckman, conductor (2 performances)