Categorized | Entertainment

HPA hosts Ukulele Festival (March 2)

The Sixteenth Annual Ukulele Festival, themed “Iz, The Man and His Music,” celebrated the music of Israel Kamakawiwoole, the gentle giant of Hawaiian music with the voice of an angel. (Photo courtesy of HPA)

The Sixteenth Annual Ukulele Festival, themed “Iz, The Man and His Music,” celebrated the music of Israel Kamakawiwoole, the gentle giant of Hawaiian music with the voice of an angel. (Photo courtesy of HPA)

MEDIA RELEASE

“The Magic of Motown” is the theme of this year’s Twentieth Annual Ukulele Festival at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. The special twentieth anniversary event is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 2.

The performance, which is free and open to the public, will be held at Gates Performing Arts Center, located at HPA’s Upper Campus.

More than 120 students from Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Kealakehe Intermediate School, and Waikoloa School will perform under the direction of Georgia Polakova, Dagan Bernstein, and Barbara Kopra (HPA); Gloria Juan (Kealakehe), and Lani Opunui (Waikoloa).

Alumni from the ukulele and choral programs from these schools are invited to join this milestone program.

According to Polakova, one of the event founders, 20 years ago, three music directors from three separate schools, one from Oahu and two from the Big Island, met at the Hawaii State Music Conference and dreamed of a tri-school ukulele festival.

“Never in our wildest dreams did we think this festival would grow into such an amazing event involving so many students,” Polakova said. “This year, audiences can expect the beautiful sound of ukulele, youthful voices, energetic dancing, some sharing of the history of Motown, and always some surprises. It all adds up to ‘The Magic of Motown,’ a wonderful family event.”

Past themes have included The Wonderful World of Disney, The Beatles, Lights! Camera! Action!, and Iz: The Man and His Music, among others.

For more information, call 885-2501 or 885-2500.

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