Dear Friends of the Kamuela Philharmonic,
As we begin the 16th fiscal year since our incorporation in September 2005, we are looking forward to resuming our live MasterWork concert and school education program schedules after a year and a half of cancellations required by the COVID-19 gathering and travel restrictions. During that time, Kamuela Philharmonic musicians were able to present many free small ensemble concerts in shopping centers and other outdoor venues, all funded by various grants. Because those programs were greatly appreciated, we’ve decided to continue seeking funding for them. Our small ensembles were also featured in a video recording broadcast in May, and in a free, outdoor concert in April at the Hub in Hawi. 
I’m also extremely pleased to announce that we’ve reached agreement on a new contract with Maestro Brian Dollinger, our Artistic Director, who will continue to lead the Kamuela Philharmonic for the foreseeable future, bringing professional quality, live symphonic music to our beautiful island home.
For the coming season, we’ve reserved the Kahilu Theatre for Sunday afternoon concerts beginning at 2:00 pm on October 3, 2021, January 30, 2022, and April 3, 2022, so please save those dates. The October 3, 2021, concert will feature the winners of our Madeline Schatz-Harris Concerto Competition, Crystal Ferreira, a student of Dr. Thomas Yee, performing the 1st Movement of the Mendelssohn piano concerto, and Aimee Okagawa, a student of Wendy Yamashita, performing the 1st Movement of the Grieg piano concerto.
I’m happy to share with you the exciting news that the Kamuela Philharmonic has been chosen to represent the State of Hawaii in a new national initiative designed to revolutionize the positioning, visibility and financial health of community symphony orchestras!
Called United Symphonies of America!, the project will showcase—in an online montage to be broadcast on September 30—the many wonderful and diverse ways that orchestras impact their local communities. In other words, rather than presenting the “concert experience” per se, the program will focus on how our events and activities enrich our Big Island community and, thereby, make a critical difference! We’ll soon have more information for you regarding the September 30 on-line broadcast, which is planned for 12:30 pm, HST.
I am also writing to enlist your financial support. As the Kamuela Philharmonic steps forward in this historic initiative, we imagine doing it side-by-side with some of our community’s corporate and foundation leaders. In addition to the benefits of boosting community pride, all major gifts to support our participation in the USA! project will be recognized as follows:
- Credit on the USA! national website and the national production
- Credit on the Kamuela Philharmonic website (kameulaphil.org) and, for challenges, the KPOS donation page
- Inclusion in all pre- and post-event orchestra communications to donors, subscribers, students and others.
- Inclusion in all pre- and post-event local press releases
Because the USA! event will premiere online on September 30th, we plan to reach out to you early next month. As you might imagine, we want to share our enormous pride about representing our state in this national initiative and explore the potential for major donations and possible sponsorships of our concerts or entire season.
You should also know that next month, we will ask people to participate in the Give Aloha program at Foodland stores.
As always, we’re very grateful for your time and consideration.
With warmest regards,
Joel Gimpel, President
Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra Society
P.S. For information about the United Symphonies of America! project, here’s the website, www.unitedsymphonies.com, which will be succeeded soon by a site featuring some cool promotional items that you might purchase and proudly display, knowing a portion of the proceeds directly benefits the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra!
