Maestro Ernest Taniguchi, together with his band performs music from famous composers
The McKay Auditorium hummed with energy as the Hawaii Symphonic Band tuned their instruments and prepared to showcase their skills before the audience on the evening of Saturday, April 15.
Conducted by Maestro Ernest Taniguchi, the concert featured the music of famous composers such as Brahms, Ravel, Mussorgsky, and the premiere of a new work by BYUH alumnus, Samuel Kuoha, “Epica di Diana.” Participants and audience members said they were grateful for the power of music in the way it transcended language and borders.
Maestro Taniguchi took to the stage, dressed in an elaborate tuxedo with flowing coattails and a white bow tie. After taking a bow, he assumed the conductor’s position, baton in hand. As he began conducting, the music grew from sweet sounding, gentle woodwind melodies to a buildup of blaring brass. The powerful blasts of sound from French horns and trombones were interpolated by the tinkling of the triangle and piercing yet soft percussion of the xylophone. Each performance was met with thunderous applause from the audience, which Taniguchi directed toward his musicians.
One of the pieces featured in the concert was an original piece composed by BYUH alumnus Kaleo Kuoha, who was watching the concert via Zoom and received a loud round of applause. The band was later accompanied on piano by both Dr. Scott and Stacy McCarrey, both professors in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts.
Ezra Gellert, a sophomore from Laie majoring in music, performed with the band playing the trombone. To be performing under the direction of Ernest Taniguchi, Gellert said, “He’s a very good conductor. Very expressive. He displays a lot of emotion with the music that he pulls out of it. So it’s fun playing under him.”
Gellert said he has been playing the trombone for about 13 years, but said he works to play as much as he can to stay passionate about music. He added how his favorite piece he got to perform during the concert was called “Pictures at an Expedition,” a piano suite by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky, which was the final piece performed during the night.
Speaking about music, Gellert said “It has a lot of power. It creates friendships. It creates emotions, and feelings that otherwise you’d go without. Music conveys words or feelings without having to speak a single word and it’s just a unique experience you can’t really find any other way.
“You can display the feelings in your heart without having to say a single word. Just through sound and music.’
Sam Tobon, an alumnus from Colombia who graduated in 2021 with a degree in business management, said “I think this is one of the unique opportunities that BYU–Hawaii has to connect with the greater community because it brings people that wouldn’t usually come to our campus. Members from our community and also all over the island coming here, we had the opportunity to listen to them last year when they performed for Veterans’ Day. Very talented people, very amazing.
“There’s a lot of high school students here, so I think another really positive thing is for the students to see what the future can be for them. I think they can be inspired by listening to and watching performers.
Taniguchi’s friend Nicole Chatman who had come to BYUH to support him said “I really liked the one with the piano, that was really good. But I did enjoy it all, and of course the last piece. It was just, you know, everything coming together.” She added how she loved the way music made her feel, and expressive it could be. “There’s something for everyone.
About Taniguchi, Chatman said “I always make sure to go watch his concerts and be supportive…It’s amazing. It’s been so many years I’ve been watching him. So it’s just this amazing progression I’ve been seeing and I really can’t describe it in words.”