At the Pacific Music Institute, we believe music connects communities, empowers young people, and creates lifelong opportunities beyond the notes our students will play this summer. But making world-class music education accessible is about more than just about instruments and practice; it’s about building a vibrant community of passion, partnership, and purpose.
Our parent organization, Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, and its mission are driven by the core values of dreaming courageously, growing together, inspiring, and having fun. Through these values, we strive to foster fun and creative experiences for youth that inspire a deep appreciation for music (and lifelong relationships!) within the culture of our islands. We believe that music is a powerful tool for building bridges, whether that means providing opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to perform together, creating meaningful intergenerational experiences through our community performances, or developing partnerships that expand educational access.
We can’t achieve this alone; our journey is powered by the incredible support of local partners and community members who understand that investing in young musicians is investing in our shared future.
Dreaming Courageously: College and Career Workshops
Thanks to the generous support of Hawai‘i Community Foundation, our parent organization, Hawai‘i Youth Symphony, is proud to offer free workshops called B# = C Success, which embody our dedication to fostering a community culture that values higher education and supports students in their educational and career pursuits. We’re not just teaching young musicians how to play—we’re helping them envision and prepare for their future, whether as a professional musician or not. Each 90-minute session is carefully designed to inspire and support our next generation of artists:
- Professional musicians share their personal journeys, along with live performances
- Interactive Q&A sessions provide real-world insights into arts careers
- Practical guidance on scholarships and financial aid
- Networking opportunities to connect with peers and professionals
The best part? These workshops are open to all keiki and families, not just our current students, because we believe in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for everyone who dreams of a life in music. Be sure to stay in touch on our social media for information about upcoming workshops.
Growing Together: Music Across Generations
Our commitment to music extends far beyond the classroom. We take pride in our students performing free concerts in the community, giving them a chance to share the joy of music with others. At PMI 2024, our students brought their talents to venues including Downtown Art Center in Chinatown’s historic Arts District, the Halekulani Living Room in Waikīkī, and many senior living and care communities across the city including 15 Craigside, One Kalākaua Senior Living, and Kāhala Nui.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to bridge generations through music, spreading joy and creating meaningful connections, truly bringing new meaning to making music a right for all.
Inspiring: The Orchestral Learning Alliance
Since 2019, we’ve been proud to collaborate with the National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F) through our Orchestral Learning Alliance (OLA). We love that “ola” in Hawaiian means life, which is exactly what our partnership represents.
Through this partnership, we are fortunate to have teaching fellows from NOI+F visit us each summer, bringing our students new perspectives as to what the pathway to becoming a professional musician can look like. We’ve even been able to expand this partnership outside of the summer; this past February, our Hawai‘i Youth Symphony students traveled with NOI+F teaching fellows to Maui on our Neighbor Island Tour. We appreciate the fellows bringing beautiful music to many schools across Maui!
Our President, Randy Wong, beautifully captures our partnership with NOI+F: “Playing together in an orchestra fosters lifelong skills, habits of mind, and intelligence. We love working with partners who share our view that music is life and are passionate about bringing that joy of music to our youth.”
Having Fun: Side-by-Side With Professional Musicians
New to PMI 2025 will be a side-by-side performance with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra. This opportunity has been a magical experience for so many of our Hawai‘i Youth Symphony students, and we are grateful to be able to offer it this summer for our Pacific Music Institute Symphony Orchestra students. While this experience encapsulates all of our values, to dream courageously, grow together, and inspire, it truly is an amazing way to have fun!
In Hawai‘i Youth Symphony’s Spring 2025 Side-by-Side during Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven Festival, bass trombone and tuba student musician, LJ, shared how valuable it was to get professional tips and advice from people who play music for a living. Most of all, LJ expressed that they “really enjoyed playing with double the amount of people. It made playing fuller and louder…and more fun!”
The Power of Collaboration
Our partnerships and programs are designed to build community for our young musicians. These programs aren’t just initiatives—they’re each a pathway to possibility, brought to life only when a community comes together.
Mahalo nui to our many community partners, including Hawai‘i Community Foundation, National Orchestral Institute + Festival, Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, and so many more. It’s your belief in our mission that helps us achieve so much for our students!
If you, too, believe in community partnerships through music, we invite you to join our community by:
- Attending a concert
- Making a financial contribution
- Referring students to our programs
- Following us on social media
There are so many ways to get involved and support young musicians in our community. Together, we can continue to provide meaningful musical education and opportunities for young artists!