UH Community Colleges presents Hakuoh University Handbell Choir

Internationally-recognized handbell choir will perform two free concerts, Feb. 14 and 15

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Susan Lee, (808) 956-5852
Director of Marketing Communications, Office of the VP for Community Colleges, UH System
Deborah Nakagawa, (808) 956-0321
Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Office of the VP for Community Colleges, UH System
Posted: Feb 7, 2012

Hakuoh University Handbell Choir
Hakuoh University Handbell Choir
HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Community Colleges proudly announces the 21st Goodwill Tour of the internationally-recognized Hakuoh University Handbell Choir, performing two free public concerts on Feb. 14 and 15. Celebrating its 24th anniversary, the choir will also be performing for friends of Hakuoh University and more than 500 O‘ahu school children.
 
Led by acclaimed director Hirotaka Arai, who founded the choir in 1988, the 19 student handbell ringers will perform free public concerts on:
  • Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. at Central Union Church (1660 South Beretania St., Honolulu)
  • Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. at Windward Community College’s Paliku Theatre (45-720 Kea'ahala Rd., Kane'ohe)
The choir will perform a range of selections from classical standards including Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro" to contemporary hits from the musical "The Lion King." The choir has the capacity to ring seven octaves of handbells, and their dedication to practice and performance has created worldwide demand for their music.
 
The choir will kick off its Goodwill Tour of Hawai'i with a performance for friends of Hakuoh University at a Friendship Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i's Manoa Grand Ballroom.  In addition, they have scheduled free concerts for students on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Windward Community College and on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Kapolei Middle School and Island Pacific Academy.
 
From their home in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, Hakuoh’s all-female ensemble has traveled to performances in Canada, England, and Australia and has entertained audiences including the Emperor and Empress of Japan and the King and Queen of Belgium. They have performed at Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland and have plans to participate in the August 2012 symposium in Liverpool, England.
 
In February 2008, Hakuoh University signed an international cooperative agreement with the University of Hawai'i Community Colleges. The annual Handbell Choir Concert, co-sponsored by Hakuoh University and the UH Community Colleges, is one of the cooperative activities undertaken by the two institutions.

For more information about the choir’s performances, call (808) 956-0321.