Preparations

We are busy rehearsing our concert program and finalizing travel details. The preparations are always exciting, whether we are going around the world or to a neighbor island.

Last Spring the SWQ visited Kauai for one day to perform at some schools in the Lihue area, but it's been a long time since we performed a concert on Kauai and we are looking forward to renewing friendships and making new ones. Two of us (Marsha and Jim) last performed on Kauai when the Honolulu Symphony visited immediately after Hurricane Iniki. It was a memorable time and all of us have visited for vacation many times since.

We are especially excited about performing a few pieces by Hawaii composers. Allen Trubitt's Spring Wind was written for us about 20 years ago and we programmed it on our New York and Norway Tour in 2005. We will also perform a portion of a piece Keola Beamer wrote for kiho alu (slack key guitar) and wind quintet. Keola can't join us for this concert, but we have a version we can do with the five winds. The movement we will do is called Nani Ha`upu after a mountain near Lihue. So we're looking forward to playing it for our Kauai audience within sight of Ha`upu itself.

Stay tuned for more about our tour to Kauai!