Award-winning University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa music lecturer and composer Michael-Thomas Foumai has been selected as a Pacific Century Fellow. The Pacific Century Fellows (PCF) program, modeled after the prestigious White House Fellows program, announced the selection of its 17th class in August.
Foumai is the winner of the 2017 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation young composer award. In March 2019, the world premiere of his composition Raise Hawaiki, an artistic interpretation of the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s Mālama Honua worldwide voyage, was performed at the Blaisdell Concert Hall by the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, Oʻahu Choral Society and other artists.
“Now more than ever, it is important for the arts to build connections and relationships that have never been and to strengthen those in place by creating partnerships that reach and benefit everyone who live in and visit the islands,” Foumai said. “We are coming together from different industries and experiences to make Hawaiʻi a better place, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with other fellows in finding ways the arts can answer the call to build a better and more connected community.”
PCF encourages and enhances civic participation by bringing together a diverse group of individuals who build lasting networks and learn about the issues and challenges facing our community. This year, the 35 early- and mid-career leaders come from government, business, the arts, nonprofits and corporations.
