Featuring:
Nā Wai Chamber Choir
The Hawai‘i Nui Chorale
Members of the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan, Artistic Director

Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan

I have spent my life at the intersection of classical music and Hawaiian culture. While these two phenomena may seem quite different, I see them as indirect mirrors of each other. These two integral components of humanity are testaments to the resilience of our ancestors, weavers of melodic contour, proclamations of awe for the natural environment, rituals that bring us together, and important acts of beloved community. Handel’s Messiah is a work that exists at the forefront of the Classical vernacular for many reasons. This year, we zoom into the Messiah as a profound act of honoring the language of community. Noting its history as a piece to be explored within the vernacular of the era, Handel’s work is an example of how classical music can be accessible and relevant to our neighborhoods. For when we engage with music that brings the familiar and unfamiliar together, we open ourselves to the infinite. This year, for the first time ever, we premiere a critical edition of the entire Christmas portion of the work i ka ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i with orchestra, soloists, and choir. Join us.

Free admission
Donations encouraged