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diversity; "Today the band has 50 members ranging in ages from 12 - 74 and representing all walks of life."
About Us
MAUI COMMUNITY BAND
Under the direction of Lisa Owen
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 band programs but had long since graduated. It was an exciting first rehearsal with borrowed music and high expectations.
MAUI COMMUNITY BAND
Under the direction of Lisa Owen
Today the band has over 50 members ranging in ages from 12 - 74 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; most 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 an opportunity for wind and percussion players to continue their music reading skills and further pursue their instruments. The band is affiliated with Arts Education for Children Group and performs during their annual summer band festival, where it is the featured entertainment at the 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. 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 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Some other venues have included hotels, shopping centers, War Memorial, and more.
Lisa Owen, ConductorLisa Owen has been active on the Maui music scene for over 20 years. She recently 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 a member of the Maui Pops Orchestra. In addition to the Maui Community Band, Lisa is the leader of several musical groups including the Maui Brass Ensemble, High Seas Dixieland Band, Village Musicians German Band, Moonglow Swing Band, and Ragtime 3.
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. Her love of teaching has not subsided since her retirement. Currently she is teaching a class at Kaunoa Senior Center and conducting workshops for Arts Education for Children Group.
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 1988 Lisa recorded a ragtime album, “Buffalo Rag,” with well-known pianist and ragtime historian Elliot Adams.
Lance Jo, Assistant Conductor
Lance Jo began his music career as a band student at Baldwin High School. He continued his education at Indiana University, Bloomington, receiving his Bachelor of Music Education degree. After serving two years on active duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France, he returned to Indiana University and earned his Master of Music Education degree.
Mr. Jo started his teaching career in 1964 at the old Hamakuapoko campus of Maui High School. In 1967, he moved to Baldwin High School when Maui District initiated band classes in the elementary schools. At Baldwin, Mr. Jo was responsible for the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Pep-Marching Band. He also conducted the Pit Orchestra which provided live music for Baldwin's Performing Arts Learning Center's musicals. Over the years, the shows included Oliver, Carousel, Grease, The Wiz, Hello, Dolly!, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Big River. Mr. Jo also taught piano, classical guitar and guitar/ukulele classes.
In June 1995, the Baldwin High School Symphonic Band traveled to Washington, D.C., and presented concerts in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. The band also performed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California as part of the trip.
Mr. Jo was a guest conductor of the Massed Band at the 32nd Maui District Intermediate Music Festival on April 27, 2002. He was also the guest conductor of the Honor Band at the 27th Maui District High School Music Festival on May 8, 2004. Mr. Jo has served on the faculty of the Pacific Music Institute, a Hawaii Youth Symphony-sponsored summer institute on Oahu, for 21 years as a clinician and conductor. He also is the Music Director of the Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, now in its fifth year.
After thirty-nine years of teaching, Mr. Jo retired from the DOE on July 1, 2003.
Mr. Jo started his teaching career in 1964 at the old Hamakuapoko campus of Maui High School. In 1967, he moved to Baldwin High School when Maui District initiated band classes in the elementary schools. At Baldwin, Mr. Jo was responsible for the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Pep-Marching Band. He also conducted the Pit Orchestra which provided live music for Baldwin's Performing Arts Learning Center's musicals. Over the years, the shows included Oliver, Carousel, Grease, The Wiz, Hello, Dolly!, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Big River. Mr. Jo also taught piano, classical guitar and guitar/ukulele classes.
In June 1995, the Baldwin High School Symphonic Band traveled to Washington, D.C., and presented concerts in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. The band also performed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California as part of the trip.
Mr. Jo was a guest conductor of the Massed Band at the 32nd Maui District Intermediate Music Festival on April 27, 2002. He was also the guest conductor of the Honor Band at the 27th Maui District High School Music Festival on May 8, 2004. Mr. Jo has served on the faculty of the Pacific Music Institute, a Hawaii Youth Symphony-sponsored summer institute on Oahu, for 21 years as a clinician and conductor. He also is the Music Director of the Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, now in its fifth year.
After thirty-nine years of teaching, Mr. Jo retired from the DOE on July 1, 2003.
Ted Manzano, Assistant Conductor.
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Stephen Rodrigues, Assistant Conductor
