Neil McKay

Neil McKay’s song Honolulu was chosen as the theme song for Honolulu’s centennial celebrations throughout 2005. It was sung by Mayor Mufi Hanneman and broadcast along Waikiki Beach to a continuous line of 1,000 hula dancers on August 20. You are invited to visit the composer’s website at www.neilmckaymusic.com.

Premieres

Four by Four, four miniatures for saxophone quartet, was introduced April 3, 2005, by the University of Hawaii saxophone quartet, Todd Yukumoto directing, Orvis Auditorium, Honolulu, HI. E Kui Lima II (Join Hands), a concertino for orchestra and string trio, was premiered April 10 by the Hawaii Youth Symphony with soloists In Young Park (violin), Thomas Lee (viola), and Dayna Furusawa (cello), Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI; the same ensemble presented the work again on May 22 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, HI; both performances were conducted by Henry Miyamura. Overture, Songs of Hawaii for wind ensemble was first heard in a July 21 performance by the Honolulu Symphonic Winds, under the direction of Miyamura, Pearl City Cultural Center, Honolulu, HI. Hear My Song! for chorus and orchestra, featuring songs of eight Pacific Rim countries, was introduced on December 4 by the Hawaii Youth Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, led by Miyamura, Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI.

Performances

Bop-a-deedle! a concertino for Afro-Caribbean percussion and orchestra was heard in an April 4, 2004, performance with percussionist Russell Robertson and the University of Hawaii Symphony, under the direction of Henry Miyamura, Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI. The work …such sweet sorrow was presented January 13, 2005, by the Oregon All-State Orchestra, led by Miyamura, Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene, OR; and on April 4 in another performance, conducted by Miyamura, by the University of Hawaii Symphony at Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI. Symphony for Winds was performed May 18 by the University of Hawaii wind ensemble, Grant Okamura conductor, McKinley High School Auditorium; and on October 13 by the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Kevin Geraldi. The orchestral work Overture, Songs of Hawaii (Na Mele) was heard October 30 as performed by the Hawaii Youth Symphony, under the direction of Miyamura, Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI.

Neil McKay’s song Honolulu was chosen as the theme song for Honolulu’s centennial celebrations throughout 2005. It was sung by Mayor Mufi Hanneman and broadcast along Waikiki Beach to a continuous line of 1,000 hula dancers on August 20. You are invited to visit the composer’s website at www.neilmckaymusic.com.

Premieres

Four by Four, four miniatures for saxophone quartet, was introduced April 3, 2005, by the University of Hawaii saxophone quartet, Todd Yukumoto directing, Orvis Auditorium, Honolulu, HI. E Kui Lima II (Join Hands), a concertino for orchestra and string trio, was premiered April 10 by the Hawaii Youth Symphony with soloists In Young Park (violin), Thomas Lee (viola), and Dayna Furusawa (cello), Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI; the same ensemble presented the work again on May 22 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, HI; both performances were conducted by Henry Miyamura. Overture, Songs of Hawaii for wind ensemble was first heard in a July 21 performance by the Honolulu Symphonic Winds, under the direction of Miyamura, Pearl City Cultural Center, Honolulu, HI. Hear My Song! for chorus and orchestra, featuring songs of eight Pacific Rim countries, was introduced on December 4 by the Hawaii Youth Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony Chorus, led by Miyamura, Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI.

Performances

Bop-a-deedle! a concertino for Afro-Caribbean percussion and orchestra was heard in an April 4, 2004, performance with percussionist Russell Robertson and the University of Hawaii Symphony, under the direction of Henry Miyamura, Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI. The work …such sweet sorrow was presented January 13, 2005, by the Oregon All-State Orchestra, led by Miyamura, Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Eugene, OR; and on April 4 in another performance, conducted by Miyamura, by the University of Hawaii Symphony at Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI. Symphony for Winds was performed May 18 by the University of Hawaii wind ensemble, Grant Okamura conductor, McKinley High School Auditorium; and on October 13 by the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Kevin Geraldi. The orchestral work Overture, Songs of Hawaii (Na Mele) was heard October 30 as performed by the Hawaii Youth Symphony, under the direction of Miyamura, Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu, HI.

Further Information

• 2003-2004 American Composers Update
• 2002-2003 American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1999-2000 American Composers Update
• 1996-1997 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online
• SAI's Music for Young People section