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Maui Community Band
"Today the band has over 40 members ranging in ages from 8 - 78 and representing all walks of life."




Maui Community Band

The Maui Community Band was founded by Lisa Owen in February, 2003. A small gathering of musicians met for a first rehearsal under the baton of Lisa. Many of the musicians were jazz musicians who wanted to hone their music-reading skills. Others were high school students wanting more playing opportunities. The majority, however, were musicians who had played in the local school band programs but had long since graduated. It was an exciting first rehearsal with borrowed music and high expectations. 

Today the band has over 40 members ranging in ages from 8-78 and representing all walks of life. About half are students from the local intermediate and high schools who are yearning for more playing experience and challenges. The rest are adults who enjoy keeping up their music-reading skills by playing challenging and entertaining music. The camaraderie among the musicians is phenomenal. The more experienced players serve as mentors for the budding musicians. The band boosts of having seven band directors in its membership; several of whom serve as assistant conductors. The repertoire includes marches, Broadway tunes, Hawaiian songs, pop, rock, jazz, holiday music, and general concert band literature. 

The mission of the band is to perform concerts for the community at various venues and to provide and opportunity for wind and percussion players to continue their music reading skills and further pursue their instruments. The band has a long-time relationship with Arts Education for Children Group and performs during their Lahaina 4th of July fireworks show. AECG has also commissioned several original works for the band. The first such piece was "Haleakala" by well-known composer Carl Strommen. A few years ago, the band commissioned Mr. Strommen to compose another piece, resulting in "Silversword - "Ahinahina o Maui." Other pieces have included arrangements of Hawaiian music by the band's own Siuai Laufou: Hawaiian Waltz Medley, Mele No Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. The band has also performed with Maui Choral Arts Association and Early Music Maui at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Some other venues include hotels, shopping centers, theaters, and more. In 2013, the band performed at the Ladner Music Festival in Canada.

Lisa Owen, Founder

Lisa Owen has been active on the Maui music scene for over 30 years. She is retired from Seabury Hall where she had taught music, specifically band, for 18 years. She played with the Maui Symphony until its demise and is currently the principal tubist of the Maui Pops Orchestra and the recently formed Maui Chamber Orchestra. In addition to the Maui Community Band, Lisa is the leader of several musical groups including the Moonglow All-Star Swing Band, Maui Brass Ensemble, High Seas Dixieland Band, Village Musicians German Band, and Ragtime 3. For the past two years, Lisa has served as the conductor for the Maui Pops Orchestra's children's concerts. 

Lisa hails from Stockholm, Sweden, and was educated there as well as in the U.S. She has a BA in Music from Thomas Edison University and has done post-graduate work at the Southern Oregon University and Humboldt State University, where she served on the advisory board for the Humboldt State Brass Chamber Music workshops. 

Lisa's career as a professional tuba player has spanned over four decades. While living in California she was the principal tubist of the Bay Area Women's Philharmonic conducted by Joanne Falletta, Sacramento Symphony, Sierra Philharmonics, Nevada County Concert Band, and was a popular free lance musician and soloist with many other musical organizations. She also led her own groups: Grass Valley Brass Quintet and South Yuba Tuba Ensemble. In 1998, Lisa recorded a ragtime album, "Baffalo Rag," with well-known pianist and ragtime historian Elliot Adams. 

Ted Manzano Jr., Conductor

Born June 4, 1947. Attended Baldwin High School, Wailuku, Maui, graduated in 1965. Attended Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, graduated in 1969. Taught at Green Valley Consolidated Schools, Green Valley, Illinois, 1969-1970, Band and Chorus. Inducted into the US Army in September 1970. Served in Vietnam 1971-1972. Discharged from US Army, March 1972. Started teaching on Maui in September 1972 as a traveling music resource teacher (band), serving Makawao, Kula, Paia, Haiku, Pukalani Schools. Band Teacher Kahului Elementary School, 1981-1989. Band Teacher Teacher, Maui Waena Intermediate School, 1989 until retirement in 2003. Part time Band Teacher, St. Anthony Jr. and Sr. High School, 2004-2007. Member of the Maui Community Band, 2010-Present. Member of the Maui Pops Orchestra, Timpanist, 2013-Present. After Lisa Owen had fallen ill (August 2017), Ted has been serving as the MCB Principal Band Director. 
                        Lisa Owen
          Ted Mazano