This year, Pacific Music Institute once again brought together young musicians from across Hawai‘i and beyond for a week of musical experiences, community connection, and personal growth. Each July, we’re reminded why it matters so much: PMI 2026 was a testament to the power of music, community, and deepening the traditions that make this program so special.
This July brought the same magic that keeps students coming back summer after summer… individualized chamber music coaching, the opportunity to perform in front of various (and supportive) audiences, the joy of learning alongside your peers, the mentorship of world-class educators.
Come and relive this past July with us!
Three Campuses, One Community
We were grateful to return to ‘Iolani School for PMI 2026, and to also host our opening-weekend workshops at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Across our two venues, we had the perfect facilities to enhance our students’ summer learning, including workshop spaces, rehearsal rooms large and small, and performance areas.
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
On July 3 and 4, our students took part in large-ensemble rehearsals as well as a variety of workshops meant to expose them to musical topics they may not normally have access to during the year, and possibly pique their interest! This year, topics ranged from improvisation to eurythmics and more.
‘Iolani School
In our second year at ‘Iolani School, we were grateful to hold our day-to-day rehearsals in the Castle Building, and it served as the perfect hub for our faculty and students to play, and learn. Seto Hall served as the performance venue for the majority of our concerts, and we were grateful to be able to use other areas of the campus to gather and make memories.
Hawai‘i Pacific University
The students who took advantage of our student housing (hailing from Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and California) were even able to familiarize themselves with a third campus: Hawai‘i Pacific University! Mahalo to HPU and their team; it was our second year having students and OLA Fellows housed here and we were so grateful for the accommodations.
PMI’s Impact Across the Islands
PMI’s reach extended far beyond our campus performances. Thanks to our 2026 OLA Teaching Fellows, joined by Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra horn player Jamie Sanborn and PMI Clarinet Faculty Ellen Breakfield-Glick, we brought live music into communities throughout Hawaiʻi, performing at libraries and senior centers across O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island. “Being able to interact with the community in such a direct way is such a valuable thing to me,” we learned from 2026 OLA Fellow Brendan Shirk. “One reason we become musicians is to create music, of course, but another main reason (especially for me) is to be able to share the gift of music with other people. Being able to have that opportunity here at PMI is such a meaningful way to do that!”
This PMI quintet was able to visit Pāhoa Senior Center, Pāhoa Library, and Mountain View Public School/Library on Hawai‘i Island, as well as Kailua Public Library on O‘ahu.
The spirit of sharing the joy of live music was carried through our student community performances. Our Solo & String Quartet students shared their talents at various public venues throughout Honolulu where they were able to practice their repertoire in front of supportive audiences before the PMI 2026 Concert Series.
The benefit to these community concerts is two-fold. First, the experience! Our students have a range of experiences when it comes to performing, and for those who are still getting the hang of it, these community concerts are a great opportunity for them to practice. Second, sharing the joy of music and allowing our students to see the positive impact that comes from sharing music with the community. “All the quartets at PMI perform community concerts and I have always loved attending and seeing my groups perform in those wonderful spaces,” reflects viola faculty Zoë Martin-Doike. “In the past, the groups that I’ve coached have performed at some nursing homes and retirement communities. And it’s always great to see the smiles on everyone’s faces, to see these kids come in with all their energy and their nerves and to perform for these people in the community.”
Music and Learning
Music and learning happen in our rehearsals and performances, of course. But our team has also strived to think outside the box when it comes to adding value for our students and our music community at large.
This summer, our OLA Fellows hosted three (free!) B# = C Success workshops, facilitating valuable discussion with students and families within our broader music community about college and career pathways for young musicians. Topics flow based on our participants, and can include how to keep music in your life after high school and how to pay for your college education.
“One of the things that you can do to prepare [to fund your college education] is really work with each school that you’re interested in and really have those conversations with their financial aid office,” shares Richard Scerbo, OLA Director and Director of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival. “Don’t be afraid to talk about the financial aspect of what your education costs, because it can be challenging to have a career in music. It can be challenging or maybe difficult to talk about money…but having that fluency, being direct, being open about what your financial needs are will only serve to help you in working with that school or program.”
Celebrating a Week of Growth
Our 2026 Concert Series at Seto Hall and the Blaisdell Concert Hall at the end of PMI reminded us all why live music matters. In just one intensive week, our students had learned new repertoire, deepened their musicianship, built friendships, and prepared to share their work with an audience. Watching the entire series of seven concerts (not including community concerts) always impresses us when we reflect on the vast amount of repertoire our students tackle in such a short period of time. It’s truly a celebration of their hard work and dedication, and the mentorship of our incredible faculty.
To break it down, our PMI 2026 students learned over 50 works, clocking 15 performance hours across all our ensembles. And that’s just over the course of 10 days!
Making History on a National Stage
Our PMI 2026 Concert Series concluded in an exciting national recognition, where we were honored to celebrate PMI’s co-founders Lance Jo and Henry Miyamura posthumously receiving the League of American Orchestra’s prestigious Betty Utter Community Impact Award.
The Betty Utter Community Impact Award celebrates change makers who make youth orchestras engines of transformation, not only for students but for their entire communities. Maestro Jo and Maestro Miyamura embodied the ideals of change makers within our youth orchestra community, founding PMI with a vision and legacy that has lived on for over three decades. We’re proud and honored that our Maestros are being recognized on a national stage.
We were also proud to have received a Stand For The Arts Award by Spectrum and Ovation TV. This award was bestowed to only ten organizations in the nation (AND, we were the only youth orchestra!).
We’re grateful to these organizations for their belief in our vision. What a way to close out PMI 2026!
Our Gratitude
Our sincerest mahalo nui goes out to our PMI community, including students, faculty, staff, parents, and volunteers without whom PMI could not happen.
We’re also so grateful for the support of community organizations, including:
Atherton Family Foundation
Charles & Mitch Ota Foundation
City & County of Honolulu
Cooke Foundation
Halekulani Corporation
Hawai‘i Community Foundation
Hawai‘i State Legislature
Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture & the Arts
‘Iolani School
Maurice & Joanna Sullivan Family Foundation
The Al Sherman Foundation
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa