As the year draws to a close, as I reflect on the last year, I’m choosing to look at the successes, the good moments, the things that have improved for our musicians, the things that have made our corner of the world a little better. As musicians, we strive to improve, but sometimes, it’s a little too easy to be a little too critical and forget to look at the upswings, be they large or small.
Let’s listen to some of those high notes:
- Diamond Head Theatre (DHT) is consistently selling out shows and has a new union agreement, with scheduled raises for the musicians for the next four years.
- New Musical Director Dane Lam and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra (HSO) are garnering accolades and rave reviews.
- Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) is healthy again, and is backing gigs in our area, some at 100 percent funding, some co-sponsored at 50 percent.
- Studio 909 is providing a successful, viable venue for our members’ performances, as well as recitals and symphony rehearsals.
An overflow crowd for percussionist Noel Okimoto’s festive Ohana Jazz, Studio 909, Dec. 26th gig: (l-r) pianist Tommy James, vibist Abe Lagrimas Jr., trumpeter DeShannon Higa, upright bassist Dean Taba, soprano saxophonist Allen Won, and Okimoto.
To close, I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season, and a prosperous new year.
Straight ahead and strive for tone,
James F. Moffitt
From the Winter 2024 issue, Ke Ola O Na Mele