WAILUKU - Directors from two Big Island intermediate schools will strike up their bands for the first time at the 39th annual Intermediate School Music Festival on April 16 and 18 at the War Memorial Gym.
Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Middle School, under the direction of William Harris, and Keaau Middle School, led by Kuulei Mukawa, will join the regulars at the long-running music festival. The regulars include bands from Emmanuel Lutheran, conducted by Andrea Ka'io; Kamehameha Schools Maui Middle School, Siuai Laufou; Iao School, Jim Balicanta; Doris Todd Christian School, Noel Kuraya; and Stevenson Middle School on Oahu, Ross Nakamura.
Among the highlights of this year's festival will be a performance of "Seasons" by the 400-plus-member Massed Band and the decorated Maui High School Band Color Guard and Drumline. The number was arranged by Jerry Nowark and Kerry Wasano, director of the Maui High School Marching Band.
The Saber Drumline is among the top percussion ensembles in the state, placing first four times at the Kamehameha Schools Tournament of Bands on Oahu in the new millennium. The Saber color guard captured two first places at the tournament.
Wasano, a graduate of Maui High, has been band director at his alma mater for 11 years, leading the concert, symphonic and marching bands. He earned a bachelor of arts in music in 1996 and his postbaccalaureate certification in secondary education in 1998 from the University of Hawaii-Manoa.
In 2006, Wasano took a sabbatical to study wind band at Moscow State University of Culture and Arts in Russia.
Wasano's drumline and color guard will perform on the second night of the festival. The first night will spotlight the individual bands, which each will perform for the audience.
The second night will showcase the Select and Massed Bands. The Select Band, consisting of musicians who had to audition for their seats, will be led by Kamehameha Schools Hawaii's Harris.
The graduate of Brigham Young University-Hawaii began teaching at Konawaena Middle School before accepting the post of band director at Kamehameha in 2001. During his career on the Big Island, Harris has taught concert band, parade band, jazz ensemble and percussion ensembles.
Outside of school, Harris remains an active performer and conductor with the Polynesian Cultural Center Brass Band and the Hawaii County Band.
He will conduct the Select Band, which will play four numbers: "Kilkenny Brigade" by James Ployhar, "The Voyageurs" by Pierre LaPlante, "Battle Pavane" by Thielmann Susat and "Highlights From Mary Poppins" by Richard and Robert Sherman.
The Massed Band will follow the Select Band on the second night. In addition to "Seasons," the band with musicians from all the schools will play "His Honor" by Henry Fillmore, "Monmouth Overture" by Michael Sweeney and "The Tempest" by Robert W. Smith.
Performances will begin at 7 p.m. both nights. The cost to enter is $2 for adults and $1 for students each night.
