MAUI POPS NEWS

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Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for young Musicians Winners:

Sunday, March 17, 2024:

2024 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had five winners:

Matthew Yagin is a graduating senior at Baldwin High School where he plays saxophone in the band, and plays in Maui Community Band, Chop Suey Jazz Orchestra, Na Ali’i Jazz Band and Maui District High School Honor Band, among other groups. He played with Maui Pops Orchestra March 17^th. He plans to study music performance, composition and music education in college and return to Maui to further contribute to our music community.
Anica Jihae Ancheta plays piano and is a graduating senior at Baldwin High School where she plays principal flute in the school band, as well as playing with Maui District High School Honor Band, and plays in the Maui Flute Choir. She also plays violin and is currently concertmaster of Maui Youth Philharmonic. She has performed as a member of Maui Pops Orchestra for two seasons on flute, piccolo, piano and violin. She is planning on pursuing music in college, as well as physics.
Zachary Bush plays piano and trumpet and has performed in the percussion section of Maui Pops Orchestra for two seasons. A junior at Seabury Hall, he also plays in the school’s band, the Maui Intermediate Select Band, Maui District Honor Band and Berklee College of Music’s Brass Workshop NOLA Band. He is planning to pursue a college degree in either trumpet performance or jazz studies.
Abigail Hufalar is a graduating senior at Lahainaluna High School who serves as percussion section leader for the school’s Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Marching Band. She has occupied many leadership positions within the school’s music department and is planning to pursue a degree in music education and return to Maui to teach after graduation.
Kristen Takamiya, a graduate of Baldwin High School, is attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she majors in saxophone performance and music education. She will begin her student teaching assignment next semester on Oahu and, after graduation, is planning to return to Maui as a music educator.

Sunday, March 12, 2023:

2023 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had four winners:

Rhys Castro is a trombonist with the Baldwin High School Band, Maui Community Band and Maui District Honor Band Ensemble. A graduating senior at Baldwin, he will attend Whitworth College in Spokane, WA and plans to become a music teacher.
Carter John Rosenthal is a graduating senior at Seabury Hall who plays guitar, ukulele and percussion. He has applied for admission as an environmental engineering major at numerous schools and plans to double major in sound design/recording technology.
Anica Jihae Ancheta plays piano and is a junior at Baldwin High School Baldwin High School where she plays flute in the band. She also plays violin and is currently concertmaster of Maui Youth Philharmonic. She has performed as a member of Maui Pops Orchestra on flute and piano this season.
Kaitlyn Mae Chua Torricer has played violin for ten years with Suzuki Maui Talent Education and is a graduating senior from Maui High School where she plays saxophone in the band and sings in the choir. She plans to major in psychology and will continue participating in musical endeavors in college and beyond.

Sunday, March 13, 2022:

2022 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had four winners:

Alara Berkmen is a percussionist with the Maui Pops Orchestra and a senior at Seabury Hall. She plays piano, flute. In university, she plans to major in biomedical engineering and will continue her music studies to further her knowledge and abilities.
Chloe Inamasu Tagud plays piano and flute, and also sings in the Maui High School Chorus. She will be graduating this year and plans to enroll at University of Hawaii at Manoa to pursue a Bachelors of Education in Music.
Anica Jihae Ancheta plays piano, flute and violin. She is a sophomore at Baldwin High School where she plays flute in the band. She has been a member of Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra since 2017 and served as co-concertmaster in 2018-19. She plans to double major in physics and music in university.
Kristen Mitsuko Takamiya graduated from Baldwin High School and is a sophomore at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she majors in Music Education and is studying saxophone. After completing her Bachelor in Music Education, she intends to seek a Masters in Saxophone Performance.

March 2021:

2021 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had four winners:

Xaden Nishimitsu is a graduating senior from King Kekaulike who has shown great leadership as trumpet section leader, band president and in numerous other activities. He plans on majoring in music in college and pursue a performance career.
Darius Soo Hoo is a graduate of Henry Perrine Baldwin High School. He is attending Denver University where he is pursuing concurrent Bachelor’s degrees in Violin Performance and Mechanical Engineering.
Kisa Uradomo is a graduate from King Kekaulike High School and attended Eastman School of Music. She is currently attending University of Michigan where she is completing her Master’s degree in Violin Performance.
Stacie Saito, also a violinist, is attending University of Hawaii Manoa, where she has added a Music minor to her Chemistry & Psychology majors.

Sunday, March 8, 2020:

2020 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had three winners:

Marielle Ellorin is a percussionist with the Maui Pops Orchestra and private student of our own Peter Della Croce. She is a graduating senior from Baldwin High School who also studies piano. She is planning to enlist in the Marines – hoping to find a place in the Marine Band and, eventually, attend college – most hopefully Berklee College of Music.
Brianna Burgos plays trumpet and sings. She is a graduating senior from Lahainaluna where she participates in all of her school’s music ensembles, as well as Maui District Honor Band and Maui Community Band. Music has helped her gain confidence and build excellent leadership skills. She is hoping to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Heather Osterstock is a flutist who studies privately with our own Peggy Schecter. She is a graduating senior from Baldwin High School where she “peer tutors” freshmen flutists and has served as principal flutist and drum major with the Bear Pride Marching Band. She has also been a part of the Maui District Honor Band. She hopes to attend the University of Washington, play in the Husky Marching Band and Campus Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sunday, March 10, 2019:

2019 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had three winners:

Darius Soo Hoo is a senior at Henry Perrine Baldwin High School. He is an accomplished violinist and flutist. He plays as a member of the Maui Pops Orchestra, Maui Chamber Orchestra and is Concertmaster of the Hawaii Youth Symphony I. He will be attending college this fall with either a double major or major/minor in music and engineering.
Jalen Baraoidan is a graduate of Lahainaluna High School currently attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, from which he will graduate in spring 2021. An accomplished clarinetist, he is pursuing a Master of Science in Music Education and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting. He wants to return to Maui to teach music.
Lauralei Singsank is a graduate of Seabury Hall where she began playing the flute and studying privately with Peggy Schecter. She was a member of the Maui Youth Philharmonic, Maui Flute Choir and performed in several MAPA summer musical productions. She is set to graduate in December 2019 from the University of Oregon as a double major in General Music and Political Science.

Sunday, March 18, 2018:

2018 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had two winners:

Kaila Pojas is a senior at Henry Perrine Baldwin High School playing percussion in the “Bear Pride” Marching Band and the Symphonic Band. In addition to these ensembles, she is a percussionist for the Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Maui Pops Orchestra. She has been studying piano for 14 years with Mrs. Ruth Murata-Eisen. After high school she plans to pursue further studies in music.
Emily Tsuhako is a Senior at Maui High School. She has been playing the flute for 7 years, and has been studying privately with Peggy Schecter the last two years. Emily is an active member of Maui High’s music programs, serving as a Drum Major for the Band program, and as a President for the Choir program. In the future, Emily hopes to return to Maui and serve as an elementary music educator.

Sunday, March 19, 2017:

2017 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. This year we had five winners:

Jalen Baraoidan: Jalen is a student at Lahainaluna H.S. and has clearly defined education and career goals. He plans to pursue conducting and arranging and work toward a MS in Music Education, and a Ph.D. in Wind Conducting. He wants to promote music education in Hawaii, and be an orchestra director. Sponsor: Stephen Rodrigues, Music Director, Baldwin H.S. and Myron Carlos, Music Director, Lahainaluna H.S.
Nicole Yuzon: Nicole currently plays violin with the Maui Pops Orchestra (MPO) and will attend UH Manoa or Hilo. She is likely to remain in Hawaii and be active in MPO, or other orchestras. Sponsor: Iolani Yamashiro-Rahimi, Violin Teacher
Angela Yasutomi: Angela is a senior at Seabury Hall with a strong music background who has played flute and piccolo with MPO. She is likely to continue to perform with MPO or other orchestras. Sponsor: Peggy Schecter, Flute Teacher
Elizabeth Konohia: Elizabeth is a senior at King Kekaulike H.S. and is being given a scholarship award based on her exceptional talent and clear financial need. Elizabeth has a real love of music, performing, and vocal harmonizing. She plays flute, bassoon, bass, tuba, and euphonium. As her senior project, she taught music to elementary school students and encouraged them to pursue music in H.S. Sponsor: Casey Nagata, Music Director, King Kekaulike H.S.
Lorraine Konohia: Lorraine, Elizabeth’s twin, is also being given a scholarship award based on her exceptional talent and clear financial need. Lorraine plans to major in music production and composition, and hopes to make that her livelihood. Sponsor: Casey Nagata, Music Director, King Kekaulike H.S.

We are grateful to Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa for participating in the award presentations. Congratulations to our 2017 winners!

Sunday, March 20, 2016:

2016 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Award for Young Musicians was presented to Darius Soo Hoo:

The Maui Pops Orchestra is very pleased to announce the winner of our 2016 “Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship for Young Musicians”. Mr. Darius Soo Hoo received a $2,000 scholarship toward his future academic goals and was presented the award at our March 20th concert, “Spring Into Pops”.

Darius is a 15-year-old freshman at Baldwin High School, currently playing the flute and violin, with a prior interest in piano and French horn. He is the son of Tom & Vicki Soo Hoo of Kula (Maui). Darius was chosen as the Principal Flute for the Maui Intermediate Select Band three years in a row. He has studied violin with Ms. Teresa Skinner for eight years, recently completing the Suzuki Method Violin School Book 9 (out of 10), and has studied flute with Ms. Peggy Schecter for the past three years. He has enjoyed his experiences with the Maui Academy of Performing Artis, playing the role of the “Fiddler” in Fiddler on the Roof and as a member of the orchestra for Miss Saigon and Evita.

His love for the violin has taken him to many different places and in many different directions. Darius has attended the Suzuki World Convention in Matsumoto, Japan, the California Summer Music program at Sonoma State University and, in 2015, the Summer Strings Academy at Indiana University. He has also had the pleasure of playing in the Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra violin section, and performing as the featured soloist with the Maui Pops Orchestra. He currently is a member of the Maui Chamber Orchestra and the Maui Pops Orchestra.

The Board of Directors of the Maui Pops Orchestra congratulates Darius on winning the $2,000 student scholarship and we wish him all the best in his future music endeavors.

Sunday, March 22, 2015:

2015 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Award for Young Musicians was presented to Kisa Uradomo:

The Maui Pops Orchestra is very pleased to announce the winner of our 2015 “Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship for Young Musicians.” Ms. Kisa Uradomo received a $2,000 scholarship toward her future academic goals and was presented the award at our March 22nd concert, “Maui Pops Goes to the Ballet.”

Ms. Uradomo was a senior at King Kekaulike High School and graduated in the summer of 2015. She is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ira Uradomo of Kula (Maui). Ms. Uradomo plans to continue with her music education and has been accepted with a partial scholarship to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where she plans to double major in music education and music performance. She enjoys playing in any kind of musical ensemble, whether it’s classical, jazz, or modern contemporary music. Ms. Uradomo also served as concertmaster for the Maui Pops Orchestra’s performance of “Maui Pops Goes to the Ballet.”

Sunday, March 23, 2014:

2014 Auriol Flavell Student Scholarship Awards for Young Musicians were presented. The two winners were Lucas Broadbent and Makaele Kane.