2 Thursday, May 4, 2017 Courtesy photo Ukulele teacher taught thousands to play As the final in a series of three concerts paying tribute to those who have kept music alive in Hilo, the Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band, joined by BJ Soriano and students, will honor the band’s founder, George Camarillo Sr., at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Palace Theater. Seventy-six students will participate in the concert, showcasing selections including “Hilo March,” “Fur Elise” and “Under the Double Eagle.” For the last piece, band members will play a portion of it behind their heads. “At the end, we will have a song where if people come with their own ukulele they can strum and sing along from the audience,” said the founder’s son, George Camarillo Jr. “That song will be ‘You Are My Sunshine.’” Soriano, a private ukulele instructor at BJ’s Ukulele Halau, will bring eight of her keiki students to perform in the first half of the concert, with a few songs played by students from both groups. More than four decades ago, the senior Camarillo started an ukulele band at Waiakea Intermediate with 53 students from the seventh and eighth grades. His program — which taught students a variety of music including Hawaiian, contemporary, ballads, marches and Latin music — became wildly popular. Soriano was part of the first WIS Ukulele Band 45 years ago, she says. “What changed my life was when George Sr. asked me to take over for him at the Hilo Community School for Adults,” Soriano says. “That’s what started my career. Now I’ve been teaching for more than 40 years myself. He was my inspiration.” Camarillo Sr.’s children, Rama, George Jr. and Lila, carried on their father’s musical traditions as well, going on to teach music. George Jr. took over as director of the WIS Ukulele Band in 1982. Katie Young YAMANAKA Big Island Vibe w May 04 2017 4. CD release UH-Hilo Jazz Orchestra in concert tonight 9. Brewfest returns Tickets for annual event go on sale this weekend 10. Puzzles Entertain your brain 12. Let’s Go Out Ono grinds CREDITS: Editor David Bock Writers John Burnett Katie Young Yamanaka Photography Hollyn Johnson Design Bonnie L. Rogers Email your Island Beat announcements to entertainment@hawaiitribune-herald.com See UKULELE Page 11 The Waiakea Intermediate School Ukulele Band will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Palace Theater.
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