Since the summer of 2005, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (HPAF) has continued to bring world-class music to Hawai’i Island. Over the past 17 years, HPAF has garnered an international reputation as a premier training and performance program for aspiring young artists worldwide, many of whom have gone onto significant careers as singers, conductors, directors, orchestral musicians, and teachers. Each season, HPAF assembles an exceptional roster of faculty artists who provide instruction and appear in a series of events for the Big Island community. As the Festival continues to work to resume full operations in 2022, a reimagined 2021 Summer Festival will continue to build upon that momentum. HPAF will offer four performances to in-person audiences for the first time in 24 months.
The Journey Back will run from July 8 – 18, 2021 at Kahilu Theatre.
On Thursday, July 8 at 7 p.m., HPAF will open the season with Stars of Tomorrow, featuring local Big Island talent and alumni of HPAF’s Young Singer Program. Directed by Beth Dunnington, this concert will feature Becca Barrett (left), Stacee Firestone, Eric Gee, Daniel Gregg, Noelani Loughery-Kawaihoa, Benito Mercia, Pantanjali Raul, and Grace Todd. The program celebrates HPAF’s commitment to music education and the cultivation of young local talent.
“We are eager to kick-off our 2021 Festival with a program that celebrates our identity as an organization,” says Justin John Moniz, Executive Director. “Despite the challenges of the year, we have found a way to continue our ongoing commitment to our local emerging artists. Under the skillful direction of both Beth Dunnington and Val Underwood, this talent will be on full display Thursday night, as we begin our long-awaited journey back.”
Stars of Tomorrow includes selections from shows including The Light in the Piazza, Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods, Assassins, and Carnival, among many others. HPAF will welcome a reduced capacity in-person audience to Kahilu Theatre for each performance. A very limited number of in-person tickets remain. Alternatively, concert-goers can tune into the performances from home via Kahilu.TV. Tickets for all four of the Festiva’s upcoming programs are available via the Kahilu Theatre Box Office by visiting: https://kahilutheatre.org/Shows/2021-July For additional Festival information, please visit:www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org.
ABOUT HAWAII PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
HPAF is a nonprofit organization whose aim is to offer a world-class music training and performance program in the inspirational setting of Hawaii, and to improve the education and elevate the spirit of all who participate, especially the local community.