Aloha Bassists (and Alumni Bassists) of HYS!

As bassists, we are the stable, supportive leaders of any ensemble, be it an orchestra, jazz combo, rock band, or really any music!

I'm calling on you to help Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony make its year end fundraising goal.

Federal and state funding are nonexistent for the arts (and especially for orchestras), but the needs that HYS have are real. More students than ever are signing up to learn the bass (last year, we had FIVE beginners and had to buy 1/8 size basses for them!), and we have a lot of deferred maintenance needs for bass upkeep... like cutting bridges, refinishing fingerboards, fixing cracks & seams, getting new bass cases, rehairing bass bows... not to mention, providing financial aid & scholarships, travel assistance for neighbor island bassists, and bringing in renowned bassists for masterclasses, workshops, bass classes, and yoga.

In recent years, HYS has been making huge strides in developing young bassists, including taking part in a semiannual Side-by-Side with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra! Students join HSO bassists on stage for a rehearsal & concert, building musical skills and starting lifelong friendships. Several HSO Bassists are HYS alums: Shawn Conley (Principal), Matt Love (Assistant Principal), Taiga Benito (section), and myself (section).

If you make a gift to HYS in the amount of...

• $25, we can start to replenish our supply closets with essential bass gear, like fresh rosin, bass bibs, rockstops/donuts, polish, wheels, or digital tuners/metronomes. Many bass students cannot afford the added cost of accessories.

• $75, we could re-hair one of our dozens of bass bows, or replace a string, or replenish our supply closet

• $300, we could re-hair 4 bass bows, or replace a full set of strings, or replenish our supply closet

• $500, we could replace an old bass case with a new one, or pay for 2 roundtrips for neighbor island students to attend HYS rehearsals, or provide a portion of financial aid assistance to qualified students

• $1,000, we could replace 2 old bass cases with new ones, or pay for 4 roundtrips for neighbor island students, or provide financial aid for students in one of our Academy String, Symphony, or Jazz programs

• $2,500, we could pay for a semester's worth of round trips for a neighbor island student, or provide financial aid for qualified students, or bring in a renowned bass pedagogue to teach, perform, and inspire youth

There are many other ways your gift can make a difference (and the ones above are just some illustrations).

Can I please count on you to help support HYS? Gifts of any size are welcome, and together we can make a difference for Hawaiʻi bassists!

—Randy Wong

President & CEO of HYS

Alumni Bassist

Bassist in Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra