Hawaii Tribune-Herald A thrill for the senses Hawaii International Music Festival finale features concert, free park event Hawaii International Music Festival will host its season finale concert at 6:30 p.m. today at First United Protestant Church in Hilo. This year’s theme, “Thrill of the Senses,” highlights local causes and tastes alongside its music by incorporating free samples of Hawaiian Crown chocolate turtles, Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee and Ken Goodrich’s photography and art. Tickets start at $30 for general admission and $20 for students. They can be purchased online at brownpapertickets. com or at the door. HIMF also is teaming up with Lili‘uokalani Gardens to raise awareness of and support for the Hilo landmark. A free prelude to the finale will take place from 1-2 p.m. today at the gardens near the Pahoa-side gate. Local musicians, such as harpist Cymber Lynn Quin, will offer a glimpse into the evening’s events. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and make it a picnic. This season, HIMF has hosted nine concerts between Oahu and the Big Island. Performing classical musicians have included soprano singer Amy Shoremount- Obra, violinist Eric Silberger, pianist Carlin Ma, bandoneon player JP Jofre, jazz ukulele player Benny Chong, cellist Sung Chan Chang, bassist Byron Yasui, pianist Kwan Yi, tenor singer Manuel Castillo and others. Many of these musicians have performed at international venues and impressive biographies on each of them can be found at the HIMF website. Shoremount-Obra, also a co-founder of HIMF, described the upcoming concert as “world class musicians that are passionate about creating beautiful music and connecting with the community in Hawaii.” The event not only is multisensory with tastes and images from throughout the Big Island, but it also tells a story of the community. As a nonprofit, HIMF aims to bring classical music to the Islands through events such as the festival and educational outreach programs. Musician and photographer Ma added that the concerts are “a means to tie the community together. Each one of our concerts has a community partner. Last year, we had a concert at Pahala Plantation where we featured the Ka‘u coffee growers for their 20th anniversary and we paired their coffee with our music,” she said. Ma is another of three co-founders and its artistic program director. “We like to cross-pollinate with other fundraisers because it makes us stronger as a community,” said Ma, referencing this year’s Pahala Plantation concert on Aug. 16 which raised money to create a museum in the town of Pahala. The idea for HIMF started when Shoremount-Obra and Silberger, the third co-founder, were discussing how to perform together. Shoremount- Obra had been to the Big Island before and found an opportunity in the venue. “Years before, I received a grant to come to the Big Island to do some concerts. I had a chance to work with schools and that was a part of the inspiration — to bring classical music to the Islands because there is a need for that,” she said. Last August, HIMF held its first festival with concert dates on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Many of the musicians are friends that the co-founders met through performances and travels. Other times, Shoremount-Obra describes it as serendipity. Island Beat Box “Sometimes we know someone that knows someone,” she said. “This year we have a unique collaboration with Opera Guadalajara in Mexico. They received a grant to help fund bringing their artistic director and opera singer here, Manuel Castillo. We are also meeting local artists as we go along and it’s been really, really cool.” The co-founders want the festival to be an annual event in Hawaii. “Hopefully with grants and future donations, we will be able to spend more of the money toward specific causes than operational costs,” Ma said. “We are thankful we have friends of amazing caliber who are willing to do this at a much cheaper rate than normal because it would not be affordable otherwise.” By AJA HANNAH Special to Island Beat What: Hawaii International Music Festival Picnic Prelude When: 1-2 p.m. today Where: Lili‘uokalani Gardens, 189 Lihiwai St., Hilo What: Hawaii International Music Festival’s finale concert When: 6:30 p.m. today Where: First United Protestant Church, 1350 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo Cost: $30 for general admission; $20 for students. Tickets can be bought online at brownpapertickets. com or at the door. Photo: CARLIN MA Artists at Pahala Plantation House in 2016.
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