HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.078 2008-2010Yoshimoto, J
From: Michael Roberts [mr42 @umail.iu.edu]
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 11:31 PM
To: jyoshimoto @co. hawaii. h i. us
Subject: Save the Hawaii County Band
Dear Council Member Yoshimoto,
My name is Michael Roberts. I am from Bloomington, Indiana, home of the prestigious
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. As such, music is and for many decades has
been integral to the cultural integrity of this city. The University's music school is
one of the biggest centers of diversity not only on campus or in the city, but in the
state as well, and what a wonderful gift that is (Indiana is not exactly known for its
cultural diversity, in general). It is responsible for drawing into our town such great
musical talents from around the world as my good friend Dylan Suehiro who hails from the
Big Island. It is clear he has a great passion for all things musical, and especially the
Hawai'i County Band. He has gone to great lengths to make aware everyone who will listen
of the threat the Hawaii County Band is under due to new budget cuts.
Despite the strength and sustainability of the University's school of music, music
programs for younger, K -12 students in Bloomington have also been given decreased funding
or been cut entirely over the years
- the most recent of cuts having been announced just in the past few weeks. This is
extremely disappointing and disheartening for anyone in this town who has ever been
involved in music as we know what music has done for ourselves, and what it can do for
future musicians as long as it is well supported within the city. Our hobbies, passions,
careers, livelihoods, and lives in general in music all started in programs such as these;
without them none of us would be where we are today, which may or may not mean much to
you, but it means the world to those who love music. This is why I'm writing to you in
support of the Hawaii County Band. This band is remarkably rich in history and
tradition, and provides great service to its public. The band itself is a staple in the
history of Hawai'i County, and to take it away in such abrupt and cruel fashion is to take
away a figurative friend, father, and mentor from all these great people. This is
something built on love, passion, unity, and is an icon of the community, to potentially
be torn down simply by greed. Cutting funds from this band is not the solution to budget
reconstruction. Being involved in a musical group such as this is an enabler for human
growth - young and old people alike get so much out of participating in groups like these.
Mr. Suehiro, like many of his peers and their respective college destinations, likely
wouldn't be able to attend IU without HCB as his launching platform. It is so much more
than an activity.
There is a good chance you and your colleagues have enjoyed performances in the past from
this group - make sure these performances don't just REMAIN in the past.
The least you can do is make the budget reconstruction a conversation WITH the HCB, rather
than a dictation TO the HCB. Work with them to find a way to continue funding them AND to
make budget cuts in places, but do NOT cut funds entirely. This group deserves the
chance. I strongly urge you to positively consider them in your plans for budget
reconstruction. Do not let these days be known on the Island as 'the days the music
died'.
With respect, hope, and many thanks,
Michael Roberts
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