What an incredible summer we had in 2025! Pacific Music Institute 2025 brought together young musicians from across Hawai‘i and beyond for an unforgettable week of musical experiences, community engagement, and personal growth. This year marked several exciting firsts and meaningful expansions that truly embodied our mission of nurturing the next generation of musicians while serving our island community. Relive this past July with us!
A New Home at ʻIolani School
This summer, PMI took place at the beautiful ʻIolani School campus. The transition to this new venue provided our students and faculty with exceptional facilities that enhanced every aspect of the PMI experience. From spacious rehearsal rooms to state-of-the-art performance spaces, ʻIolani School proved to be the perfect setting for this year’s intensive musical immersion. Mahalo to our ‘Iolani School ‘ohana for having us!
Preparing for Life Beyond High School: B# = C Success
One of our most meaningful additions this year was the launch of B# = C Success, a free workshop designed specifically to help prepare our youth for life beyond high school. This innovative program, made possible by the generosity of Hawai‘i Community Foundation, recognizes that musical excellence and life skills go hand in hand. Through practical sessions and mentorship, we equipped our young musicians with the tools they need to navigate their futures, whether in music or any other field they choose to pursue.
Historic First: Side-by-Side with Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra
Perhaps the most thrilling highlight of PMI 2025 was our first-ever side-by-side concert with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra during our summer program. While we’ve cherished our side-by-side experiences with the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony during the regular season, this summer collaboration opened doors for students who don’t typically participate in our year-round programs. The impact was profound: for 81% of PMI Symphony Orchestra participants, this was their very first side-by-side experience!
Jacob Dumlao, a student in our PMI 2025 Winds, Brass, and Percussion Program, captured the essence of this transformative experience: “My highlight of PMI was the Side-by-Side with the HSO, because it gave me an invaluable insight and experience of what it’s like to play in a professional orchestra and gave me a new perspective on ensemble playing.” We’re so grateful to the musicians of Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra who participated in this meaningful experience!
Sharing the Gift of Music With Our Community
True to our commitment to community, our student chamber music ensembles brought the joy of live music directly to various venues across Oʻahu. These community performances took place at senior residences throughout the island, as well as a public performance at the Downtown Art Center.
One PMI 2025 student beautifully expressed the impact of these community concerts: “I enjoyed playing at the nursing home because I could feel the joy from the residents when we played for them. It was nice playing in front of such a supportive audience.” The reciprocal nature of these performances where our students gained valuable performance experience while bringing happiness to others exemplified the heart of what PMI represents!
Extending Our Reach: Connecting with Keiki and Kūpuna
Our commitment to community extended far beyond our student performances. Earlier in the week, our National Orchestral Institute + Festival Teaching Fellows joined forces with local faculty member and Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra musician, Dr. Alex Hayashi, to bring music to more of our island’s deserving audiences. They performed a heartwarming concert for keiki at the Boys & Girls Club in Nānākuli and shared their musical gifts with kūpuna at ʻIlima at Leihano in Kapolei.
The spirit of connection didn’t stop there. Our OLA Fellows continued on a special journey to Kaua‘i, where they visited Boys & Girls Clubhouses in Līhue and Kapaʻa, bringing the magic of music to young people across Hawai‘i.
Celebrating Excellence: 10 Unforgettable Performances
The week culminated in a series of 10 spectacular concerts held at both Seto Hall and the Blaisdell Concert Hall. These performances showcased the remarkable growth our students achieved in just one intensive week of study, rehearsal, and collaboration.
The excitement and sense of achievement were palpable in the words of one PMI 2025 Symphony Orchestra student: “The highlight of PMI for me was the performance. It was fun and exciting and it showcased everyone’s hard work throughout the week. The concert experience was amazing, it felt surreal to play in such a good orchestra.”
Looking Forward
As we reflect on PMI 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for the students, families, faculty, and community members who made this summer so special. The combination of world-class musical training, meaningful community engagement, and personal development opportunities created an experience that will resonate with our participants for years to come.
The success of PMI 2025 reinforces our belief that music has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities. As we look ahead to future summers, we carry with us the memories, friendships, and musical growth that made this year truly extraordinary.
Mahalo to everyone who helped make this magical week possible! If you’re interested in joining us next summer for PMI 2026, be sure to sign up for our email list to be the first to receive information about registration!