HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – For as long as she can remember, Kisa Vladomo has had a passion for playing the violin, but it's not just about playing her favorite instrument — she's also talking about life and the impact music has on the soul.
“Music is very personal and I think it's very therapeutic in a way. Music has been great for me and I've met so many amazing people through music,” Vladomo said.
Thanks to a supportive family, teachers and band director, the musical talent was nurtured in the King Kekaulike High School graduate in 2015. After graduating from the Eastman School of Music and earning a master’s degree in violin performance from the University of Michigan, she discovered that learning violin on Maui wasn’t always easy.
“Looking back, the people I met in school on the mainland can drive down the street on a Saturday to the conservatory and take lessons there, but that's not possible for a lot of people in Hawaii,” she said.
Kisa recalls having to fly to Honolulu to study, but was thankful that a scholarship from the Hawaii Youth Symphony Orchestra allowed her to further her music education and hone her violin playing skills.
“I've always wanted to give back to my community in some way and bring the violin into the community in some way, because that's what I do.”
So Kisa organized a group of fellow musicians who shared her passion and called it the Hanaho Music Program.
“Our Hanahou Music Program is a music outreach organization whose mission is to develop, promote and provide music education to the Maui community regardless of background, economic status or artistic ability,” she said.
Over the next two weeks, Kisa and her friends will be visiting several schools across the Valley Island to give students an up-close and personal experience of an instrument that is lesser known than the ukulele or guitar.
“How can I make music more accessible to my community on Maui? This program is literally a way for me to give back to my community, especially as a way to show my appreciation for all my mentors.”
Hana Hou musicians will perform two free concerts for the public, the first at 1pm on August 31 at Kaahumanu Shopping Center and the second at 6:30pm at King Kekaulike's new performing arts center.
“And if I can give that opportunity to young students on Maui, I think it will open a lot of doors for them,” Vladomo said.
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