Tuesday Student Takeover

David Robinson studies dance at University of San Francisco. The classically trained ballet dancer from Ballet Hawaii talks to Mid-Pacific Institute classmate, musician Matin Boulos. Robinson and Boulos recently performed in San Francisco Conservatory of Musicʻs Maui Benefit Concert- a collaboration of music and interpretive dance. They share this recorded interview as Robinson starts his second year at USF.

A frequent visitor to Classical Pacific, Mia Caliri reflects on her upcoming school year at University of North Texas. The Kalani graduate is a violinist and shares some of her favorite music and tells us about college life at one of the countryʻs most respected music schools.

Triston Roberts is a self taught musician and composer/arranger. Roberts visits Classical Pacific before heading off to start his second year at Brown Univeristy. The Mid Pacific Institute graduate talks about adjusting to life on the East Coast, and how hard work and staying with his passion for music has helped him as he attends one of the nationʻs most prestigious schools.

Michael Han is a clarinetist and a thoughtful musician pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate degree at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Han shares some of his favorite music and tells us about his musical journey to becoming a music educator.

Kahuku High School junior and percussionist with the Hawaii Symphonic Band Alex Wolfersberger loves playing many different styles of music. He shares his love of drumming with us in this conversation about music, family and music education.

Skye Aoki has been playing the violin since she was 3 years old. The Punahou 10th grader talks about her love of Beethoven and advises young students to study music they are interested in.

Violinist-Pianist Aya Okimoto is a Punahou 9th-grader who has won many piano competitions — 2019 Steinway Junior Piano Competition, The Hawaii Regional Round of The Osaka International Music Competition in 2021& 2022 and the Hawaii Music Teacher's Association Music Competition, to name just a few! Aya visits Classical Pacific during a busy week with a competition and a fundraiser for Maui.

Flautist Dena Brennan is a student at Le Jardin Academy, and speaks to us during her Summer break at the Pacific Music Institute.

Frances, Lula and Leia visited Classical Pacific, bringing their instruments, and sharing music and conversation about harps and other hobbies.

Alec Tan is a 12th-grader at Iolani Schools, a pianist, and the founder and CEO of WikiVision, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run by students who are raising funds to provide free cataract surgery to uninsured and underinsured seniors. They are organizing a classical music concert fundraiser with friends to help raise awareness and reach their goal of $35,000 to help 35 patients.