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About Us

Welcome To Kamuela Philharmonic

Bringing live, high-quality orchestral music to audiences on Hawai‘i Island.

The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra Society is a nonprofit charity dedicated to bringing live, high-quality orchestral music to audiences on Hawai‘i Island. The Kamuela Philharmonic celebrates and promotes the timeless beauty of classical music, as well as the rich cultural and musical traditions of the Hawaiian people. Meet our Board of Directors HERE.

Through our Children’s Concerts and other forms of educational and community outreach, we nurture a love and understanding of orchestral music in young people. In addition to our education and outreach programs, each concert season the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra provides a showcase for our talented local musicians.

Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra Group Photo at Kahilu Theatre

Dr. Madeline Schatz-Harris, founder and Conductor Emeritus of the Kamuela Philharmonic, stepped down as Artistic Director and Maestro, moving to the mainland in 2015. Dr. Schatz-Harris, who came to Hawai‘i Island after a long and successful career as a maestro, violinist, and teacher, founded the Orchestra early in 2004. She and a handful of musicians got together as a freestanding ensemble to perform classical orchestral repertoire. Under her spirited leadership, the Kamuela Philharmonic grew to become a professional quality symphony orchestra with as many as 80 musicians, playing classical literature for the musical enjoyment of Hawai‘i Island residents and visitors.

We have engaged in several collaborative efforts as well, pairing classical music and instruments with both Grammy-winning slack-key guitarist John Keawe, as well as the work of renowned Hawaiian visual artist Herb Kane in a commissioned original piece called “Voyages,” created for the Kamuela Philharmonic. The composer, Paul Csige, grew up in Hawai‘i, and his work depicts the journey of the First Hawaiians through music and visual art. We also joined forces with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in their production of “Trial By Jury” in 2014.

Recognizing the importance of exposing our island’s keiki to quality, live, classical music, Dr. Schatz-Harris and the Kamuela Philharmonic have also presented children’s concerts, and since 2012, have held annual concerto competitions for students. The competition is now called the “Schatz-Harris Concerto Competition” in recognition of the Kamuela Philharmonic’s founder and first Artistic Director. Each year, the winners in three age groups are invited to perform their concerto with the orchestra at one of the Philharmonic’s regular season concerts. Many exceptional musicians have participated in our statewide Concerto Competition, including Kisa Uradomo, who recently went on tour with the National Youth Symphony, one of only two Hawaiians to have ever been invited to join that prestigious orchestra.

In the years following Dr. Schatz-Harris’s departure, the orchestra underwent a further growing experience. At the center of that time frame was the worldwide search for a new Artistic Director. The hiring of Maestro Brian Dollinger in the spring of 2016, from a field of over 100 candidates, is a significant step forward for the organization.

Responding to the growth of our following, Kamuela Philharmonic now has a Board of Directors that is fully engaged with all it takes to make the dream of a local symphony on Hawai‘i Island a reality for the community.

If you are interested in donating financially or physically to our endeavors, please contact us. The IRS designates our organization 501(c)(3), so any donations may be tax deductible.

Please sit back, relax and enjoy the exquisite music we will be performing for you this season. We present it with great love. We’re glad you are here and welcome you to this season of the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra Society. Our loyal audiences and performers have fulfilled a need for and perpetuated a growing love of, classical music on Hawai‘i Island. Thank you all.

Upcoming Event

24th Mar, 2024
Greatness from Start to Finish
  • 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • Kahilu Theatre
  • Kahilu Theater, 67-1186 Lindsey Rd, Waimea, HI, United States, 96743
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Board Of Directors

Meet the Kamuela Philharmonic Board of Directors.

Roster of Musicians

2022-23 Concert Season Musicians

Violin I

Ursula Vietze Koehler, concertmaster
Jennifer Tiboris
Richard Lee
Ray Broginni
Ae Kyong Yoon
Kayla Uchida
Elise Doran
Simona Gronic
Elisabeth Robinson

Violin 2

Joel Gimpel
Jessica Salerno-Woodbury
Joanne Turner
Mary Collier
Joanie Collins
Jennifer Haywood-Farmer
Tyler Tucker
Erik Takasugi

Viola

Susan McGovern
Gary Yap
Tyler Katsura
Marya Szaur

Cello

Kelly Stuart
Cheryl Lindley
Meg Saunders
Julie Salis
Peggy KempHenry

Double Bass

Delphina Dorrance
Sayuri Yamamoto

Flute

Barbara Coffman
JoAnna Byng

Oboe

Dave Masunaga
Merry Kay Kiyan
Peter Bosted

Clarinet

Robbie Brown
Melissa Thompson
David Turner

Bassoon

Lisa Wells
Wayne Kawakami

Horn

Jessica Dahlke
Colleen Whitty
Sara Kamibayashi
Bill Sever

Trumpet

Gary Ross
Josh Timmons
Charley O’Kelly

Trombone

Susan Garrod
Jenny Brown
Michael Smellie

Tuba

Garry Russell

Timpani & Percussion

Sharon Cannon
Diesel Tucker
Larry Boucher
Julia Lester

“Find out how you can support the Kamuela Philharmonic. Mahalo nui loa!”

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