The Hawaiʻi International Music Festival brings acclaimed artists to Kaʻu and South Kona this month

The eighth season of the Hawaiʻi International Music Festival will feature workshops, concerts and masterclasses from an internationally acclaimed artist faculty beginning Saturday in Pahala.

The festival is hosting its third annual vocal workshop, “The García School,” which is committed to carrying on the bel canto singing tradition made famous by legendary voice teacher Manuel García in the 1800’s.

Founded in 2016 by violin virtuoso Eric Silberger, Metropolitan Opera soprano Amy Shoremount-Obra and esteemed pianist Carlin Ma, the workshop will include masterclasses and a concert and masterclasses on the Big Island. Additionally, faculty and participants will connect with the culture of Hawaiʻi by exchanging talents and ideas with local artists.

“We are excited to showcase the music and stories of acclaimed international and local artists, which adds to the unique and diverse musical landscape we have here in Hawaii,” said operations manager Taylor Yasui. “Each year the Hawaiʻi International Music Festival strives to build upon our mission of presenting unique interdisciplinary classical music events and educational outreach programs for the community of Hawaiʻi.”

The workshop begins on the Big Island at the Pahala Plantation House, 96-3209 Maile Street on Wednesday, Jan. 4 and the festival will be ongoing until Monday, Jan. 13.

The faculty features two founders, Silberger and Shoremount-Obra, along with acclaimed pianist and Kauaʻi resident Monica Chung, renowned pianist, music director, coach and Hawaiʻi resident Maikaʻi Nash, a star of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera Carlton Moe, Honolulu-based Professor of Voice and Associate Vocal Department Chair of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and acclaimed mezzo-soprano Maya Sypert, internationally acclaimed Metropolitan Opera star and soprano Audrey Luna, and acclaimed Hawaiʻi-based violinist/violist, educator and chef Duane Padilla.

Thirteen local and international singers from the U.S. continent, Mexico, England and China will join the workshop to participate in daily lessons, masterclasses and concerts.

The workshop will host a free masterclass is open to the public in Hilo beginning at 5 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 595 Kapiolani Street, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.

Moe will lead and Nash will be at the piano for the masterclass, which is meant for classical and musical theater singers of all ages.

The workshop is seeking Hawaiʻi Island’s solo classical and musical theater singers to participate. Singers interested in participating must email himusicfestival@gmail.com no later than Jan. 6 to participate.

The festival is also featuring two special collaborations with the South Hawai’i Symphony for a concert in Ocean View and the Chamber Orchestra of Kona for an orchestral reading of operatic arias.

The concert with South Hawaiʻi Symphony will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Ocean View Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani Mauka Circle, on Saturday, Jan. 11 and will feature opera stars of the future from The Garcìa School Vocal Workshop:

• Soprano Zoe Gao of China
• Soprano Kirsten Ann Blair of Alaska
• Soprano Alexis Merry of Kansas
• Soprano Karmina Guzmán of Mexico
• Baritone Andrew Fellows of California
• Tenor Ian McMillan of Hawaiʻi
• Pointe dancer Anastassiya Neznanova of New York

While the concert is free, suggested donations at the door are $20.

The music will continue into the evening on Jan. 11 with “A Celebration of Music!” beginning at 7 p.m. at the Pahala Plantation House. The concert will feature the Garcia School students as well as soprano Amy Tama and baritone Tyler Shimabukuro both from Hawaiʻi and Ocean View’s trumpet virtuoso Farley Sangels.

Tickets for this concert are $30 and are available to purchase here.

The collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra of Kona includes two working sessions with the second session to be free and open to the public from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.

The working sessions will feature 7 young, professional singers:

• Soprano Yiqi Laura Yin of China
• Soprano Mahtab Ghamsari of England
• Soprano Alexis Merry of Kansas
• Soprano Kirsten Ann Blair of Alaska
• Soprano Karmina Guzmán of Mexico
• Baritone Andrew Fellows of California
• Mezzo-Soprano Sarah Stevenson of New York

The second working session for the public will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Kona United Methodist Church, 74-4960 Palani Rd. in Kailua-Kona on Monday, Jan. 13.