Let the music begin! Whatever you’re looking for….elegant string quartets, rousing musical theater, classic opera, or the lilting strains of Hawaiian falsetto…you can find it at this summer’s Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. No matter your age, budget, or location on the Big Island…you’ll find entertainment and inspiration at one of the 22 concerts and events starting on July 9, many of them free to the public.

In what proves to be one of the most diversified and action packed seasons in its five-year history, the music begins in early July as 125 students, teachers, guest artists, staff and volunteers from all over the world converge on the HPA campus to begin studying and performing together. Here is the schedule of concerts and events:

Performing and Visual Arts Camp. In its first program for children age 7-14, this camp will take place at Hualalai Academy June 29-July 3. Campers start on Monday, and perform “Stories from the Jungle Book” on Friday, July 3 at 6 pm in a busy, fun-packed week. Space is still available. Interested campers and their parents should contact Genette.freeman@msn.com

Clarinet and Woodwind Concerts are planned for Sunday, July 5, 11 am at St James Church in Waimea and Monday, July 6, 7:00 pm at Davies Chapel on the HPA campus. Admission is free to the public.

Café Conversations, July 7 at 6 pm at the Blue Dragon in Kawaihae entertains and educates about the ins and outs of classical music. Hosted by Gary Hickling, formerly of Hawaii Public Radio, whose lively narrative and introductions have graced festival stages since 2007. $15 admission fee goes to support the HPAF and includes pupus and wine. This event is underwritten by Michael Wald. RSVP to ponds@aol.com or purchase a ticket in advance online.

Opening Night Concert on July 9, 7:00 pm at Davies Chapel on the HPA Campus will officially kick off the classical music season in Waimea, with performances by Iggy Jang, concertmaster of the Honolulu Symphony and a hand-picked group of string players from the symphony. “Air and Simple Gifts”, John Williams’ arrangement of a familiar American folk melody which debuted at Barack Obama’s inauguration, will be performed. Admission is free to the public. Sponsored by Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine and Musiquarium.

The Best of Broadway, a glittering evening of performances by top festival artists, will include works by Bernstein, Sondheim, and Ricky Ian Gordon, hosted by Tiffany and Co on Saturday, July 11, 6:30 pm, at the Kings Shops in Waikoloa. Admission is one of Tiffany’s signature blue boxes, available for $40. One lucky blue box will win beautiful jewelry donated by Tiffany. Reserve blue boxes online before the event or contact Genette.freeman@msn.com A fundraiser to benefit HPAF, this is a catered event with pupus and champagne.

“Make A Joyful Noise”, a concert of sacred music classics, will be offered at on Sunday, July 12, 11:00 am, St. James Church, Waimea. Admission is free to the public.

Leokane Pryor and Friends offer exquisite Hawaiian falsetto harmonies at the Blue Dragon on Sunday, July 12 in Kawaihae at 7 pm. Dinner is available, reservations 882-7771 $20 suggested donation for HPAF at the door.

Art songs are among the most beautiful works ever written for singers and audiences. By definition, an art song stands on its own, and is not part of a larger work or story. This summer’s festival emphasizes the performance of art song in three concerts sponsored by Rhoady Lee and Alan Gartenhaus.

Canciones Del Alma: Songs from Spain and Latin America – Wednesday, July 15, 7:00 pm, East Hawaii Cultural Center, Hilo. Admission $10 at the door.

Fifty Years of American Music – Thursday, July 16, 3:00 pm, Davies Chapel, HPA Campus. Free to the public.

Around the World in Song – Thursday, July 16, 7:30 pm. Davies Chapel, HPA Campus. Free to the public.

Mostly Opera, a perennial favorite, Friday, July 17, 7:30 pm at Davies Chapel, HPA Campus. The festival’s vocal faculty impresses with performances of favorite arias, opera scenes, and more. Sponsored by Dwight and Louise Emery. Admission is free to the public.

Wine, Women and Song at Hawaiian Vanilla Co, in Pa’auilo, Saturday, July 18, 6:00 pm. The perfect aria complements distinctive food and drink. A fundraising event for the Hawai’i Performing Arts Festival. Tickets $49, available online or phoning Hawaiian Vanilla Co at 776-1771.

Music–The Food of Life Sunday, July 19. Plan to spend the evening dining at either Daniel Thiebaut’s in Waimea, where the theme is “The Sophisticated Life”. (reservations 887-2200) or The Blue Dragon in Kawaihae, where “Songs by the Sea” will be performed (reservations 882-7771). A portion of the evening’s proceeds go to stock Waimea Food Banks.

Music on the Orient Express at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s Garden Room at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 22 offers an Asian-inspired menu and program, For reservations, call 882-5810. Suggested donation to HPAF, $20.

Music of the Night, Thursday July 23, 7:00 pm, Gates Performing Arts Center at HPA in Waimea. A fantastical musical journey through a night of dreams, with works from Mozart to Rodgers and Hammerstein. Admission free to the public

Music of the Night, Friday July 24, 7:30 pm Aloha Theatre, Kainaliu. In partnership with the Arc of Kona. A fantastical musical journey through a night of dreams. Admission $20. Sponsored by Cynthia and Ray Salley, Dr. David Hiranaka, Sally Rice, and Kimberly Jackson.

Festival Chamber Music Friday, July 24, 7:30 pm, East Hawaii Cultural Center in Hilo. Honolulu Symphony concertmaster Ignace “Iggy” Jang and festival faculty artists perform an evening of chamber music. $10 admission

The Grapes of Wrath Suite, composer-in-residence Ricky Ian Gordon’s acclaimed opera of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 pm at the Kahilu Theater in Waimea. Mr. Gordon, sometimes compared to Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, has composed songs sung by some of the top operatic voices of our day, including Renee Fleming, Dawn Upshaw and Audra McDonald. In 2007 the full-length opera The Grapes of Wrath opened to critical acclaim as it told the story of the downtrodden Joad family. Performed by festival soloists and chorus, coached and narrated by the composer. Howard Dicus of “Sunrise” on KGMB9 will introduce the performance. Taste of Waimea, a fundraising food event which benefits Waimea food banks, both precedes and follows the concert. Tickets $20 at the door or online. Preconcert piano recital. Sponsored by Blue Dragon Coastal Cuisine and Musiquarium. Part of 50 Years of American Music series supported by the State of Hawaii’s Commission to celebrate 50 Years of Statehood.

Once upon an Opera on Sunday, July 26, 1:30 pm, Gates Performing Arts Center on the HPA Campus is an original children’s opera by Virginia Landis Stewart, each vignette entertaining and each with a subtle moral lesson. Sponsored by Barb and Bob Sterne. Free to the public, children of all ages are invited.

Green Sneakers, composer in residence Ricky Ian Gordon’s latest work explores love and loss in Sunday, July 26, 7:00 pm, Gates Performing Arts Center. Featuring baritone Jesse Blumberg and HPAF string quartet, Green Sneakers was critically acclaimed at its world premiere at the 2008 Vail Valley Music Festival. Pre-concert piano recital. Sponsored by Rhoady Lee and Alan Gartenhaus. 50 Years of American Music. Free to the public.

Piano Prodigies, Monday, July 27 at 4:00 pm at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai’s Hualalai Ballroom. Young talented piano students of Ellen Masaki will perform. Sponsored by Carol and Clive Davies. Admission is free to the public.

Pianothon Monday, July 27, 7:00 pm. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hualalai Ballroom. Admission $15. Ten young piano prodigies from the studio of Honolulu piano legend Ellen Masaki’s perform on five Steinway grand pianos supplied by Sanders Piano of Honolulu. Sales event following on Tuesday, July 28. Sponsored by Monk’s Delight Coffee.

Schedule is subject to change. Please check the www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org to confirm all events.

For more information, call 808-333-7378.
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