This Fall, the Music Department at UH Mānoa is fortunate to introduce three new faculty members: Dr. Dustin Ferguson, Dr. Alec Schumacker, and Dr. Yuan-Yu Kuan. Dr. Dustin Ferguson serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Interim Associate Director of Bands. In addition to teaching music education courses, he conducts the Concert Band, Symphony Band, and is director of …
UH Choirs unite in song, virtually
The UH Choirs have come together, even at a distance, to make music. Director of Choral Activities Dr. Jace Saplan explains the project, which brings together each of the UH-Mānoa choirs: “We are excited to share with you our virtual choir project featuring students from all of our choral ensembles—the University Chorus, Concert Choir, Nā Wai Chamber Choir, and the UH Chamber …
Nā Wai Chamber Choir Performs at ACDA Conference
This past march, the music department’s choral ensemble-in-residence, Nā Wai Chamber Choir, was invited to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Western Region Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Known for the preservation, propagation, and innovation of Hawaiian vocal music, Nā Wai Chamber Choir was one of the first ensembles of its kind to perform at the ACDA …
Dr. Jace Saplan Shares His Groundbreaking Work Nationally
Director of Choral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Jace Saplan is busy promoting his groundbreaking research and Hawaiian choral music across the nation. He recently returned from a conference titled “Transgender Singing Voice Conference” at Earlham College in Indiana. This is what Dr. Saplan has to say about his participation: “The conference is the first of its kind …
The UH Mānoa Music Department welcomes Dr. Jace Saplan
The department is pleased to welcome Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan, Interim Director of Choral Activities. As an alumnus of the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and the first Native Hawaiian to receive a DMA in Choral Conducting, Dr. Saplan is excited to serve a community that is close to his heart. He states, “It is a gift to work for …
Voices of Aloha Return
Voices of Aloha, UH Mānoa’s touring choir, returned from their biennium trip abroad this summer with performances along the East Coast of Canada and continental United States. An ensemble of ambassadors, Voices of Aloha (VoA) exists to bring their song to international audiences and to provide UH Mānoa’s top students an elite artistic experience. In 2016, UH Mānoa sent students …
Voices of Aloha: From Montréal to Manhattan
Voices of Aloha, UH Mānoa’s touring choir, looks forward to their biennium trip abroad with performances along the East Coast of Canada and continental United States this year. An ensemble of ambassadors, Voices of Aloha exist to bring their song to international audiences. Under the direction of Dr. Miguel Felipe, they provide augmentation of UH Mānoa student experiences and an …
Music Department welcome conductor, Dr Alec Schumacker
Dr. Alec Schumacker joins the University of Hawai‘i’s Music Department this fall as conductor of the University Chorus. Joining Dr. Miguel Felipe, director of choral activities, and Nola Nāhulu, Schumacker brings a wealth of experience to the choral area. Schumacker is the choral teacher at Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu, a position he’d held since 2013, and previously served as the interim …
Conductor Rodney Eichenberger Visits UHChoirs
The UHChoirs welcomed famed conductor and pedagogue Rodney Eichenberger to the music department on Wednesday, September 17. Eichenberger led rehearsals for both the Concert Choir and Chambers Singers who are diligently preparing for a late November concert. Concert Choir alto Lucía Puente Trevino noticed how Prof. Eichenberger was able to elicit students’ best singing without relying on detailed technical explanations. …