The Nāulu Winds of the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu band was selected to perform at the highly selective Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in December. In its 78th edition in McCormick Place West, Chicago, the Nāulu Winds was the lone Hawai‘i band to participate at this “holy grail” of events for bands.
Under the direction of Dr. Chadwick Kamei and Mr. Michael Nakasone, Nāulu Winds is comprised of 105 musicians from UH West O‘ahu, the community, and high schools. It was the first time a Hawaiian mele – Heha Waipi‘o – was performed at the Midwest Clinic. The performance opened with a chant offered by Kalai‘i Stern (who also sang Heha Waipi‘o; Stern is the choral director for the Royal Hawaiian Band). The UH West O‘ahu Hawaiian Ensemble performed mele from The Eddie Kamae Songbook: A Musical Journey.
“It was a tremendous honor to be selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic,” Kamei said. “Being the first ensemble to perform Hawaiian music and ‘Olelo Hawai‘i at the conference was extremely meaningful to all of us. Iʻm so grateful to all the members and the UH West O‘ahu administration for all their hard work and support in making the performance a rousing success!”
Nāulu Winds was only the second Hawai‘i band ever to participate at the Midwest Clinic – Pearl City High School – also under Kamei and Nakasone.
“The ensemble represented your university well; people will talk about their performance for many years to come and the members of the ensemble have a memory that they will forever cherish,” said Dr. Terry Austin, the 78th President of the American Bandmasters Association, who noted that “receiving an invitation to perform at this prestigious annual event is the holy grail for band directors.”