New Hawai‘i-based duo ‘Imi Ola (to seek life in its highest form) will transform us through the music of Queen Lili‘uokalani, Alban Berg, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and others. You will be serenaded by the transcendent soprano voice of Natalie Mitchell collaborating with the vibrant piano skills of Jasmine Nagano. They will take you on a journey through art songs from around the world and provide you with an unforgettable evening.
All are invited to gather for pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard and 6:15 pm. The concert is free, with a suggested donation $20. In addition, we will continue to collect packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g., cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned food donations for the Angel Network at each concert.
Due to increased levels of covid 19, wearing of masks is strongly encouraged.
Through the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation and support from other individual supporters, this concert is free. Additional donations to support this concert and the entire series are gladly accepted online (details below) or at the concert.
First Mondays 2023–2024 Concert Series
Help Make “First Mondays” a Success by Becoming a Sponsor
Your tax-deductible donations make it possible for us to offer these free concerts to the community. Please consider a donation by sending a check (payable to “Lutheran Church of Honolulu”) to the church at 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu HI 96822 or using the button to the right to make a secure donation via PayPal. Mahalo for your support.
Legends in the Hawai‘i music community, Benny Chong, ‘ukulele, and Byron Yasui, bass, will present a concert featuring ‘ukulele jazz, ‘ukulele and bass duets, rarely-heard ‘ukulele duets, and a talk story where both players will describe their start in ‘ukulele playing. This concert will flow through a variety of musical genres, and the artists will also share with us demonstrations of solo ‘ukulele styles and repertoire from the 1940s, as compared to those of the present. Come join us for this unique experience.
The First Mondays Concert Series remembers September 11th with a concert of sublime and transcendent music. An orchestra of outstanding local musicians led by Alexander Peña will be joined by soloists Helen Liu (violin), Alex Hayashi (oboe), and Kathleen Long (cello). The program includes Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber (1910–1981), Concerto for Violin and Oboe in c minor, bwv 1060
Member of Royal Hawaiian Band member DeShannon Higa is also a bandleader and visionary. He has assembled and is currently performing with two bands of his own creation. He will share the sultry sounds of his trumpet along with his ensemble, Quadpod. This neo-bop quartet will be joined by a special guest on vocals. DeShannon’s styles of music range from jazz to Latin/salsa to modern electronica and hip hop. He resides in Honolulu with his wife, former Broadway performer, from the original cast of Miss Saigon, Rocky Brown, with whom he also performs.
Join Hawai‘i jazz masters Duane Padilla on violin, Benny Chong on ‘ukulele, and Byron Yasui on bass as they present an evening of string-based swing music. Together, they explore what might happen if French jazz violinist Stephane Grapelli and American violinist Stuff Smith accidentally met in a Waikīkī night club and were asked to jam “island style.”
Just like your car or your house, a pipe organ needs regular repair and maintenance, and it’s time for regular service of LCH’s two Beckerath organs—the main organ and the small continuo organ. On Monday, May 8, Hans-Ulrich Erbslöh and his assistant, Bernd Becker, arrived from Germany to do that work. Also helping is Steve Hoover, an organ builder and the husband of Barry Wenger, our organist and director of music and liturgy.
May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi. To honor the day, Duane Padilla and friends weave a lei of favorite songs by Queen Liliʻoukalani arranged for string quartet. The arrangements were created by Duane Padilla, and he will be performing them along with Daniel Padilla, Alex Peña, and Heewon Lee. They will be joined by world-renowned guitarist Jeff Peterson and students from Hawai’i Youth Opera Chorus presenting traditional mele. Get ready for an exciting program!