This summer marked a momentous milestone for Pacific Music Institute as we hosted our first-ever Side-by-Side concert with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra. While our parent organization, Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, has been collaborating with HSO on these special programs, this summer’s concert represented a new chapter in our commitment to providing transformative musical experiences for our students.
What Makes A Side-by-Side Special?
Side-by-Side programs are joint initiatives where professional musicians and music students come together, giving aspiring young musicians the chance to play in the “major leagues.” Students and professional musicians become stand partners, sitting literally side-by-side to create music together. It’s a tradition embraced by some of the most prominent orchestras across the country, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra.
For Pacific Music Institute students, this collaboration offered an unprecedented opportunity to learn from and perform alongside the talented musicians of the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra at one of our state’s premier music venues, the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Building on a Rich Legacy
The HSO x HYS Side-by-Side initiative has deep roots in our community. The very first Side-by-Side concert, “A Taste of Symphony,” took place in September 1977 at McKinley High School. What began as an occasional collaboration became a priority during the 2012/13 season, with annual concerts held consecutively ever since.
“This is an extraordinary commitment by both organizations to furthering music education and empowering Hawaii’s rising young musicians,” says Randy Wong, President & CEO of Hawai‘i Youth Symphony and an HSO musician himself. “Both organizations are active members in the League of American Orchestras and, through this Side-by-Side, we are jointly, and joyfully, leading the nation as music makers.”
We invite you to watch this brief video to learn more about our Side-by-Side initiative.
A Summer First for PMI
While Hawai‘i Youth Symphony has regularly collaborated with HSO during the traditional concert season, this summer marked Pacific Music Institute’s inaugural Side-by-Side concert. The timing allowed us to showcase the incredible progress our summer program students make in an intensive learning environment. It also opens the opportunity to students who may not have the chance to participate in a Side-by-Side experience during the school year.
Our students participated in a Side-by-Side rehearsal with HSO musicians, experiencing firsthand what it means to be a professional musician. From arriving on time to sight-reading challenging music on the spot, students learned professionalism in a supportive yet demanding environment.
More than Music
The Side-by-Side initiative perfectly reflects our organizational values and mission: to foster fun and creative experiences for youth that inspire a deep appreciation for music and lifelong relationships within the culture of our islands. What better way to achieve this than through mentorship from and performance with local professional musicians?
“I love seeing young talent and learners really passionate about making music together,” says Helen Liu, PMI violin faculty member and HSO violinist. “It’s a symbiotic relationship: students learn by doing, and we [professionals] learn by teaching. It’s a great opportunity.”
Another PMI violin faculty member and HSO violinist, Michael Lim, reminisces about the inspiration he felt as an HYS student participating in a Side-by-Side concert back in 2007. “Events like the side-by-side concert might just be one of the sparks that inspires a musically inclined student to take the next leap and pursue their passion. It certainly did so for me.”
Building Community Through Music
This summer’s HSO x PMI Side-by-Side concert was about more than just the music—it was about building community. With musicians spanning multiple generations, from our dedicated PMI students to seasoned HSO professionals, we created an intergenerational orchestra that demonstrated music’s power to unite people of all ages.
Adding an extra dimension to this collaboration, our OLA Fellows from the National Orchestral Institute + Festival also participated in the Side-by-Side concert. This allowed aspiring professional musicians visiting Hawaiʻi from the continental U.S. to play alongside our state’s professional musicians as well as our PMI students, further strengthening our partnership with NOI+F and creating an even richer musical exchange that spans both generations and geography.
Looking Forward
This summer’s success marks just the beginning of what we hope will be many future collaborations between PMI and HSO. The memories created, lessons learned, and relationships forged during this Side-by-Side concert will undoubtedly inspire our students for years to come.
“Sharing the stage with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra gives our students an inspiring, real world experience that builds artistry, confidence, and teamwork in a way a youth-only performance simply can’t match,” says Rachel Schultz, COO of Hawai‘i Youth Symphony.
Through programs like this, Pacific Music Institute continues to provide our students with world-class musical experiences right here in our island home. We’re grateful to the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra for their partnership and to our entire community for their ongoing support of music education in Hawaiʻi.
Mahalo
We extend our gratitude to the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, our dedicated PMI students and families, our staff, and everyone who continues to support music education in our community. Together, we’re not just making music—we’re building the future of Hawaiʻi’s musical landscape, one Side-by-Side concert at a time.