Saturday, July 15, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 15, 2017

Internationally renowned violinist and co-founder of the Hawai`i International Music Festival Eric Silberger
will return to Ka`u with a team of master singers and musicians for a performance on Wednesday, Aug. 16
at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Carlin Ma
HAWAI`I INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL has announced its return to Pahala Plantation House on Wednesday, Aug. 16, for a 7 p.m. performance.  Entitlied Thrill of the Senses, the concert will raise awareness of the Pahala Historic Properties Alliance and efforts to to restore buildings to host a living heritage and education center and to curate and honor the history of Pahala. This concert will feature Metropolitan Opera Soprano Amy Shoremount Obra, who is the daughter-in-law of Lorie Obra, of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee, a famous Ka`u Coffee brand. 
     Also performing will be Virtuoso Violinist Eric Silberger, Esteemed Pianist Carlin Ma, Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra Cellist Sun Chang Yang, Mexican Tenor Manuel Castillo, Young Artist Mexican Soprano Sandra Aldaz Meraz, and World Renowned Argentinean Bandoneon Player JP Jofre. 
    Jofre, a native of San Juan, Argentina, is an award winning bandoneon player and composer. His music has been recorded by 16 Grammy winner Paquito D’ Rivera, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and choreographed and performed by ballet-star Herman Cornejo (Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre) among others. A recipient of the National Prize of the Arts grant in Argentina, Jofre has taken his form of contemporary tango to some of the most important venues in Asia, Europe, America and the Caribbean as soloist and composer. 
The bandoneon will one featured instrument at the Hawai`i International
 Music Festival performance on Wednesday, Aug. 16 in Pahala. The master
is Argentinian JP Jofre who creates a contemporary tango.
Photo from Hawai`i International Music Festival
     Jofre has been part of many festivals including the Celebrity Series of Boston, Google Talks, TEDtalks, Umbria Jazz Festival, Great Performers at Lincoln Center, Seattle Town, Belgorod Music Festival in Russia, Sudtirol Jazz Festival, and Bachanalia Taiwan, Lorin Maazel's Castleton Festival among others. For the world premiere of his Bandoneon Concerto, the Mercury News wrote: “…he is an electrifying composer-bandoneon player.”
     Shoremount-Obra made her much anticipated Metropolitan Opera Debut in October 2014 as “First Lady” in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, singing all nine performances of the opera, three of which were Sirius XM Satellite Broadcasts. Recent operatic engagements have included Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Opera Las Vegas, The Savannah Voice Festival, and NYC's new Venture Opera, Machessa in Verdi’s Un Giorno di Regno with Odyssey Opera of Boston, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte with Annapolis Opera, and most recently, Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio with Grand Harmonie.
Amy Shoremount Obra brings internationally acclaimed
musicians, including her own Metropolitan Opera
voice to perform in Pahala.
Photo from Hawai`i International Music Festival
     Shoremount-Obra has appeared at Carnegie Hall as the Soprano soloist in Fauré ‘s Requiem, Brahms’ Requiem, and Schubert’s Mass in G and at David Geffen Hall as the Soprano Soloist in Verdi’s Requiem. She was a National Semi-Finalist and New York Regional Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. 
    Hawai`i International Music Festival will also offer performances in Hilo and Honolulu.
   This marks the third Pahala performance of internationally renowned musicians and singers organized by Shoremount-Obra.
See https://www.himusicfestival.com/concerts.
   See more biographies of performers in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs and the August edition of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper.
     
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A FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT on Friday, July 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. welcomes volunteers for invasive Faya tree removal in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the park's native forest restoration program the important role volunteers play in protecting important and threatened native ecosystems.
Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is sending
out a call for volunteers to help with restoration.
Photo from FHVNP
    Volunteers should be at least 12 years old, and be able to hike at least one mile over rough, uneven ground. Sturdy walking shoes and long pants are required, along with gear for variable weather conditions (be prepared for sun or rain with a hat, raincoat, sunscreen, etc.) plus drinking water and lunch.
    Also imperative is scrubbing the soles of one's shoes prior to arrival on site, in order to ensure outside dirt/soil and invasive species aren't tracked in. Clothing, tools, and gloves, etc. should be clean before entering the park to protect against seeds, Rapid Ohia Death fungus and other invasives.
    The goal of sponsoring organization Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is a crew of 17 people, and pre-registration is required. All participants will need to sign a Friends release form and a park volunteer form. For those under 18, an adult will need to co-sign.
     To reserve a spot, contact Patty Kupchak at 352-1402, or email forest@fhvnp.org.

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Fernanda is expected to weaken as she swirls northwest to Hawai`i.
Map from Island MAX Weather
HURRICANE FERNANDA IS EXPECTED to weaken before reaching Hawaiian waters next weekend. On Saturday Fernanda was showing in inner eye about 20 nautical miles across and an outer eye about 60 nautical miles across.
     The long-term weakening is expected as Fernanda enters cooler water and in into a drier and more stable air mass near Hawai`i.


Finian's Rainbow continues its run at Kilauea Military Camp's Kilauea Theater this and next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and next Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are $20 general, $15 for seniors 60 plus and students and $12 for children 12 and under, available at the door. For more information or to make a reservation, contact KDEN at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

Celebration of Health, Mon, July 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. A gathering of oneness of groups practicing Good Health activities. Meditation with Velvet Replogle, Yoga with Stephanie Pepper, Tai Chi with Phillip Hema & Qi Gong with Shary Crocker. Nutritious snacks and dishes. Everyone welcome. 929-7647

Drawing in the Park, Tue, July 18, 11a.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Ken Charon Free. 967-8222