Dr. Takuma Itoh, Professor of Music Composition and Theory at the UH Mānoa Department of Music, was recently honored by the New Music USA 2025 New Music Creator Fund in recognition of his commitment to music creation in the local community. His ongoing series of works comprised of the Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds, Symphony of the Hawaiian Forests, and …
Christopher Blasdel’s Book Reviewed by The Times Literary Supplement
In April of this year, shakuhachi performer and Japanese music lecturer Christopher Blasdel’s book, Jiuta Sōkyoku Lyrics and Explanations: Songs of a Floating World, was reviewed by Brian Karentyk in The Times Literary Supplement. In his highly complimentary article, The Floating World: Classic anthologies of Japanese poetry in new translations, Karentyk notes that Blasdel’s book is “the first of its …
Governor Event Performance
The UH Mānoa Department of Music was represented at a high profile event this past May, when our very own Emi Obana and Marcus Moore performed at the “Honoring the Legacy of Governor John A. Burns” commemorative event, held at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Marcus, a masters composition student, and Emi, a PhD composition student, performed several …
New UH Mānoa Music Department Faculty
The University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Department of Music is pleased to welcome two new faculty members, Dr. Thomas Kloss as an assistant professor of music and associate band director, and Dr. Tyler Ramos as an instructor of music. With more than 27 years teaching instrumental music in both secondary and higher education, Dr. Kloss brings a wealth of experience …
UHM Department of Music Awarded 2025 NAfME Collegiate Chapter of Excellence in Professional Development
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Musicʻs National Association for Music Education Chapter was awarded the 2025 NAfME Collegiate Chapter of Excellence in Professional Development. This award recognizes successful chapter advocacy, music programming, professional development, recruitment strategy, and service projects. UHM Department of Musicʻs NAfME chapter, currently led by Dr. Chet-Yeng Loong, Advisor, Dennis Dilwith III, President, Rina Robin, …
Ethnomusicology pioneer receives Korean presidential award
Reposted from UH News: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Music Professor Emeritus Byong Won Lee was honored with a Republic of Korea Presidential Medal Award. Lee was selected for the award among seven nominees this year in the field of Korean music. The award recognizes excellence in research and scholarship and contribution to the Republic of Korea’s cultural organizations and the …
Double Reed Quartet performs at the International Double Reed Society
Last July, four undergraduate students from the music department at UH Mānoa were asked to perform at the International Double Reed Society’s 53rd annual conference. The double reed quartet (Erin Matsushita, oboe; Emily Fujii, English horn; JP Ovens, bassoon; and Michael Martin, contrabassoon) traveled along with UH Mānoa’s lecturer of bassoon and the quartet’s coach, Marsha Schweitzer, to this year’s …
UH Mānoa Music Department welcomes three new faculty
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 …
Composition alum Thomas Goedecke joins faculty at UH Maui College
Thomas Goedecke (Phd, Composition) joins the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College (UHMC) as a tenure-track instructor where he teaches a range of introductory and intermediate music courses with emphasis in Hawaiian music, music history, music theory, and performance. “I am looking forward to contributing to the excellent programs built by Dr. Keola Donaghy and Dr. …
Music Faculty & Staff Recognized at 2024 UH-Mānoa Awards Ceremony
The Music Department was well represented at the annual UH-Mānoa Awards Ceremony this year, with two faculty and one staff member being recognized for their achievements. Donald Reid Womack, Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research The Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Research is awarded by the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents in recognition of scholarly contributions that expand the boundaries of …