The mission of the Music Performance Trust Fund is to provide admission-free, live, quality music events by professional musicians to schools, the senior population, and general public. Established in 1948 by a landmark labor action between the American Federation of Musicians and major recording companies of the day, royalties from record sales and, more recently, […]
IMPORTANT NEWS: MPTF in Action Established in 1948 through a landmark collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians and major recording companies, the Musicians’ Performance Trust Fund annually presents thousands of admission-free musical events to the community. Usually requiring a 50 percent matching contribution from a sponsor, during the pandemic, MPTF has funded, […]
Member Spotlight: Noel Okimoto “Always learning,” Hoku-winning drummer locks in on his own fascinating, artful rhythm Noel Okimoto is a popular, versatile, in-demand drummer and award-winning jazz recording artist. His work on a self-titled, classical/jazz debut with Megan Bledsoe Ward’s Pacific Harp Project garnered a 2016 Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaii’s Grammys) for “Instrumental Album […]
Les Peetz, a writer who knew his way around some glorious jazz Union member, jazz pianist, award-winning journalist, published author, attorney, legal services developer for the State’s Executive Office on Aging, son of a Big Island plantation supervisor… There’s a lot to the late Les Peetz, 68, a lot more that people never knew. Originally […]
President’s Message Aloha kākou, I want to take this time to wish you and your ohana all the best for 2018. While 2017 has been chaotic on many national fronts, we must continue to work for progress where we can for our local professional musicians. At our last membership meeting on December 11, new changes […]
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT DeShannon Higa: The last Democratic Jazz Artist Throw any style at trumpeter DeShannon Higa, and he’ll run with it. More than likely, the Hilo native has already led the charge. A union member since 1994, the Honolulu-based Higa has mastered his own style of Democratic jazz, enveloping the traditional with the modern, EDM, […]