The East-West Center Arts Program presents an online East-West Center Gallery "Sunday Spotlight" series, from August through December 2020.

Due to COVID-19, the EWC Gallery remains closed to the public until further notice. A series of online programs will be offered in conjunction with the current exhibition “Musical Instruments: Sounds of the Asia Pacific” (extended through December 20, 2020). The exhibition features Asia Pacific musical instruments from the Ethnomusicology Instrument Collection at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Music Department.

About twice a month, programs will be presented on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. (Hawai‘i Standard Time) via Zoom. Programming will include "spotlight" conversations and musical demonstrations by Hawai‘i-based artists, illustrated talks, panel discussions, and an instrument-making workshop for families, culminating in a live-streamed performance event in honor of Professor Emerita Barbara B. Smith on December 20.  

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please register by completing the form below. Registration is for the entire series. (Note: Special sign-up instructions will be required for certain events with limited capacity.) All registrants will receive an emailed Zoom link before each scheduled program. Registrants will also receive occasional email updates about EWC Arts Program news and events.


Upcoming Programs:
Sunday, December 20, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Spotlight on Asia Pacific Performance in honor of Prof. Emerita Barbara B. Smith
To celebrate both the closing of the "Musical Instruments: Sounds of the Asia Pacific" exhibition and Prof. Emerita Barbara B. Smith's centennial year, the East-West Center Arts Program presents a combination of archival, pre-recorded, and live contributions by a variety of artists supported by Prof. Smith throughout the years. Featuring: University of Hawai'i Gagaku and Javanese gamelan ensembles; Kumu Hula Noenoe Zuttermeister (Hawai'i), oli; John Kaizan Neptune (California/Japan), shakuhachi; Il Young Moon (Korea/California), harp; Etsuko Higa (Okinawa), soprano; Chan Park (Korea/Ohio), p'ansori; Andrew Gumataotao (Guam), Chamorro song; Mohd Anis Md Nor (Malaysia), ronggeng. Please join us to close out the year!  


Past Programs:
Sunday, December 6, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on Japanese koto, with Darin Miyashiro. The koto and its music have been performed and studied in Hawai‘i for over a half-century largely due to support from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's Music Department, the East-West Center Arts Program, and most importantly, Professor Emerita Barbara B. Smith. Darin Miyashiro will introduce the koto and talk about its connection to Hawai‘i through Professor Smith's efforts and achievements.

Sunday, November 22, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on "Eo e Lili'u: Sharing the Queen's Compositions," with Nola A. Nāhulu, executive director of Hawaiʻi Youth Opera Chorus (HYOC). HYOC's motto, "Ma o nā keiki, e mau ai, ka ʻike kuʻuna o ka lāhui" means, "Through our children we perpetuate our knowledge and heritage." Nola will share performances of choral & solo singing, hula, youth opera, symphony and string quartet all inspired by the Queen's compositions. Join us on this journey through the music of Queen Lili'uokalani showing how the Queen's poetry and melodies continue to influence life in Hawaiʻi today, 103 years after her passing on November 11, 1917.

Sunday, November 8, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on "Instrument Collection Highlights from the Rest of the World: Africa, Europe, and the Americas"
UH Mānoa Ethnomusicology PhD Candidate Kirk Sullivan will speak from the UH Ethnomusicology Instrument Collection about some of its creative, sometimes surprising, and remarkable sound-producing instruments from parts of the world not included in the EWC Gallery exhibit "Sounds of the Aisa Pacific."

Sunday, November 1, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on "Kaula Piko: The Source of Strings." Kilin Reece of the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings shares about the exhibit done in collaboration between the Kealakai Center and the Bishop Museum. Kilin will share highlights from the groundbreaking exhibit, which  traces the origins of the world’s most iconic stringed instruments to their source in the vibrant, cosmopolitan musical community of the 19th century Hawaiian kingdom.

Sunday, October 25, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
"The Legacy of Barbara B. Smith for Hawaiʻi:" Moderator Professor Emeritus Ricardo Trimillos invites distinguished guests to discuss the various aspects of Professor Smith's work and its impact of her work in Hawai'i. Panelists include: Mary Jo Freshley (Lecturer of Korean Dance, UHM Theatre & Dance), Meleanna Meyer (Artist & EWC Alumna), Pattie Dunn (Academic Advisor, UHM Asian Studies Program), & Jean E. Rolles (EWC Arts ʻOhana Committee Chair). Presented in conjunction with the current EWC Gallery exhibition, which is dedicated to Professor Smith as part of the year-long celebration of her 100th birthday.

Sunday, October 11, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on Hula with Noenoelani Zuttermeister, lecturer in the University of Hawaiʻi Music Department. For this program Noenoelani will demonstrate the use of hula instruments and movements as it pertains to hula. She will also share the importance of poetry to the art form.

Sunday, October 4, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on Gangsa Music and Dance of the Philippines with Desiree Quintero, Ph.D., and Wayland Quintero, Ph.D. / MFA. Desiree and Wayland discuss cultural context of gangsa and dance, show field examples, and demonstrate movement that viewers will be encouraged to follow along to the rhythms of gangsa.

Sunday, September 27, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on Celebrate Micronesia Festival with Mary Hattori (East-West Center), Amber Jacroux Bixel (Bishop Museum), and Innocenta Sound-Kikku (Pacific Voices, Kōkua Kalihi Valley). Mary, Amber, and Innocenta will highlight performative and cultural aspects of Micronesia, particularly among local Hawai'i communities featured in the upcoming annual Celebrate Micronesia Festival, as well the festival's origins.

Sunday, September 13, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Spotlight on Taiko (Japanese Drums) with Kenny Endo, composer/performer and EWC alumnus. Kenny shares information and insights about the art of taiko, highlighting instruments in the EWC exhibition, cultural contexts, and the confluence of tradition and innovation, including performance excerpts and demonstration.

Sunday, August 30, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
“Making Music" Workshop with Benjamin Fairfield, PhD, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Ethnomusicology Lecturer. A fun activity for the whole family! You will receive a written guide and instructional videos to make your own instruments out of repurposed materials at home. Bring your homemade instruments to the online workshop on August 30, where you can share what you have made with Ben, who will teach you how to play your instruments. For ages 8 and up.
*Workshop space is limited, please sign up additionally here: http://ewcarts.eventbrite.com/

Sunday, August 23, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
“Spotlight on Hindustani (North Indian) Music” with Nāwāhineokala‘i (Nawa) Lanzilotti, MFA, composer/performer. In this conversation, Nawa draws upon her time studying Hindustani music in New Delhi to offer insights on North Indian music, instruments in the exhibition, and a musical demonstration on the cello.


Please contact arts@eastwestcenter.org with any questions or comments. Mahalo nui loa!