The Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, formerly known as Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, was founded in 1900. It is the second oldest orchestra in the USA west of the Rocky Mountains. The orchestra now plays mainly at the Hawaii Theatre Center and occasionally the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu. Dane Lam is the current Music Director, having assumed the post in July 2023.
The orchestra was originally housed in a clubhouse on the slopes of Punchbowl. From 1996 to 2004, the orchestra was under the direction of conductor Samuel Wong. In August 2007, Andreas Delfs, became principal conductor of the orchestra. He led seven concerts per season in the orchestra's Halekulani Masterworks series.[1] JoAnn Falletta, artistic advisor to the orchestra from 2010, now holds the title of Conductor Emerita. Ignace Jang is the current concertmaster.
Previous music directors included Fritz Hart, George Barati, Robert La Marchina, and Donald Johanos.
In 2014, the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra debuted its popular series musicthatPOPS, featuring Broadway music, Disney in Concert, Cirque de la Symphonie and Zelda in Concert, among others.
- ^ Westphal, Matthew (6 March 2007). "Andreas Delfs Named Principal Conductor of Honolulu Symphony".