Starbucks Salutes Hawaii’s First Grammy  A Palm Records Acoustic Guitar Showcase featuring Charles Michael Brotman with Kohala, Bryan Kessler, Jeff Peterson, Keoki Kahumoku, Sonny Lim, Randy Lorenzo. John Keawe, and Charlie Recaido.
Saturday, Sept. 17,   8pm $40/35/30
Proceeds benefit KahiluTheatre Youth Programs.
The guitarists who performed on Hawaii’s first Grammy award-winning CD present an acoustic slack-key showcase. The Grammy Award for the inaugural category of Best Hawaiian Music Album was awarded to producer Charles Michael Brotman for “Slack Key Guitar Volume 2,” in February 2005. Featured on that album were Charles Michael Brotman, Keoki Kahumoku, John Keawe, Charlie Recaido, Bryan Kessler, Jeff Peterson, Sonny Lim, John Cruz, Ken Emerson and Randy Lorenzo. more about the artists

Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band  
Thursday, Sept. 22,   7pm $45/40/35
“Absolutely riveting in performance, the bearded giant of Latin Jazz is as much fun to hear as he is to watch.”
With over two decades as one of the busiest and most successful Latin jazz bandleaders in the world, Poncho Sanchez has established himself as one of the most popular Latin jazz artists. The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band has earned three Grammy nominations, recorded over twenty CDs and continues to impress and delight their worldwide audience. more about the artists

Vogler Quartet of Berlin with Ian Parker  
Monday, Oct. 10,   7pm $40/35/30

Critics have said the Vogler Quartet belongs in the highest category of contemporary string quartets. By playing with expressive ease and warmth, the group communicates the nuances of any composer’s work with powerful interpretations and musical intelligence. The evening’s repertoire includes Mozart’s String Quartet No. 21 in D Major (“Prussian 1”), K.575, and Shostakovich’s Piano quintet in G Minor, Op. 57. more about the artists

Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble “East Meets West”  
Friday, Oct. 14,   8pm $35/30/25
The word “taiko” is often used to mean the relatively modern art of Japanese drum ensembles, however the word actually refers to the taiko drums themselves. Literally, taiko means “fat drum,” although taiko instruments have a vast array of shapes and sizes.
The Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble’s “East Meets West” celebrates Kenny Endo’s 30th anniversary of taiko drumming. As a consummate artist; Endo is a performer, composer and leading spirit in contemporary taiko. This performance features both Japanese and Western instruments in a collaboration of traditional rhythms and modern compositions. Performers include members of Endo’s Tokyo, Honolulu and continental USA ensembles. more about the artists

Kumu Kahua Theatre  presents “Tea” by Velina Hasu Houston
Saturday, Oct. 22,   8pm $35/30/25 MATINEE - Sunday Oct. 23, 1pm 
Winner of both the Los Angeles Times and DramaLogue Critics Choice awards, “Tea” has also been awarded the coveted Susan Smith Blackburn Prize naming it one of the 10 best plays by women.
This play tells the story of five Japanese women who come to know each other over tea. It is over tea that they reflect and share their own experiences of living in America. Playwright Velina Hasu Houston says, “Without being tough, they are strong. Without being weak, they are gentle. Without being aggressive, they are survivors.” more about the artists

Black Grace Dance Company  by arrangement with Arts Projects Australia.
Tuesday, Oct. 25,   7pm $40/35/30
“...a Black Grace dance performance is about the force of Pacific Island and Maori energy meeting the Western dance tradition and demonstrates the exciting new New Zealand that’s in the making.” —METRO
This exhilarating dance ensemble from New Zealand mixes traditional Pacific dance and rhythms with modern choreography to create a vigorous, signature style. Artistic Director Neil Ieremia and New Zealand’s finest Maori and Pacific Island dancers perform with an explosive mix of pulsating rhythms and unstoppable spirit. As Black Grace celebrates their ten year anniversary in 2005, they are on a mission: “to take our distinctive brand of Pacific contemporary dance to the world.” more about the artists

Beijing Modern Dance Company  Rites Of Spring, Wandering In The Realm Of Lightness
Tuesday, Nov. 8,   7pm $40/35/30

One of China’s most fascinating and innovative dance troupes, the Beijing Modern Dance Company is recognized for integrating their country’s diverse ethnic and cultural dance heritage with modern dance. Founded in 1995 under the leadership of the Beijing Cultural Bureau, the dance company has since won numerous awards. Tsao, Artistic Director of the company since 1999, has been widely recognized in his efforts to develop modern dance in China, and his choreographic works have been presented worldwide. more about the artists

‘Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Masters I  
Friday, Nov. 11,   8pm $35/30/25

The essence of Hawaiian music will be presented by the faculty of the 4th Annual Waimea ‘Ukulele & Slack Key Guitar Institute. This year the prodigious talents of Led Kaapana, Dennis and David Kamakahi, and Jeff Peterson will be joined by special guests performing Hawaiian, jazz, pop as well as instrumental and vocal arrangements of your favorite Hawaiian classics.

‘Ukulele and Slack Key Guitar Masters II  
Saturday, Nov. 12,   8pm $35/30/25

The ‘ukulele unleashed. From master Gordon Mark - a perennial favorite of the Institute students - to Canadian ‘ukulele phenomenon James Hill. The ‘ukulele sound will be stretched and folded taking it to tones rarely heard before. Also featured in this concert will be ki ho’alu sensation Raiatea Helm backed by the Institute faculty and friends. Enjoy a glimpse of the future of ‘ukulele and Hawaiian music. A concert not to be missed.

Alexander String Quartet   audio sampling
Friday, Dec 2,   8pm $35/30/25

For more than 24 years, this dynamic music group has performed in the major music capitals on four continents. In 1985, the Quartet captured international attention as the first and only American Quartet to win the London International String Quartet Competition. more about the artists

Kitka performing “Wintersongs”  
Friday, Dec 9,   8pm $35/30/25

Internationally acclaimed women’s vocal ensemble Kitka has researched and discovered a treasure-trove of seasonal music from a wide variety of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions. “Wintersongs” will evoke the magic of the holidays; music ranging from rousing Slavic folk carols to pre-Christian incantations. more about the artists

Gilles Vonsattel, pianist and Frank Huang, violinist  
Saturday, Jan.7,   8pm $35/30/25

Pianist Gilles Vonsattel and violinist Frank Huang present an evening of virtuosic chamber music. Both musicians are recipients of top honors at numerous international competitions, including the Walter N. Naumburg Foundation’s competition. Huang is the 2003 winner of the International Violin Award, and Vonsattel won the 2002 International Piano Award. more about the artists

Ernie Watts Quartet   audio sampling
Friday, Jan. 13,   8pm $40/35/30

Two-time Grammy Award winner Ernie Watts may be the most versatile and prolific saxophone player on the music scene today. Featured on over 500 recordings, his diverse career spans over 30 years. Best known for his work in jazz, he has recorded fourteen solo projects and played with pop’s most respected artists including Quincy Jones, Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones. more about the artists

The Eroica Trio  
Monday, Jan. 16,   7pm $35/30/25

Friends since they were young prodigies at music camp and then as students at Juilliard, the three musicians of the Eroica Trio are one of the most sought-after trios in the world. The vigor and passionate energy of their playing has placed them at the forefront of young classical artists today. Traveling internationally, Eroica gives more than 100 performances a year, in addition to juggling marriage and motherhood. more about the artists

Lúnasa  
Friday, Jan. 27,   8pm $40/35/30

Named for an ancient Celtic harvest festival in honor of the Irish god Lugh, patron of the arts, Lúnasa includes many of the top musical talents in Ireland today. The all-male, instrumental quintet is confident that even without a vocalist, their music connects with people through their art and energy. more about the artists

Julia Migenes  “Diva on the Verge”
Saturday, Feb. 4,   8pm $40/35/30
“I decided to make life easier for ‘Operanoiacs,’... I hope this helps them break the ice and open doors to the most wonderful world of the greatest antique of them all...Opera!” -Julia Migenes
Julia Migenes is an opera diva. In 1998 she wrote “Diva on the Verge,” an irreverant one-woman-show that mixes monologue and opera. Drawing on her experiences in opera, she sketches out the very humorous life of an opera singer, and mixes in some of the greatest arias in the soprano repertoire. more about the artists

Kronos Quartet  
Wednesday, Feb. 15,   7pm $40/35/30

Kronos Quartet, an award-winning ensemble that thrives on musical experimentation and innovation, is credited with bringing a younger audience back to traditional classical concert halls. The quartet has won acclaim from critics and peers. Among its many international awards is a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance. more about the artists

Nrityagram Dance Ensemble  
Monday, Feb.20,   7pm $40/35/30

Dressed in ornate costumes of flowing, colorful fabrics and silver jewelry, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble uses dance to tell stories based on ancient myths and folk tales. The oldest of India’s classical dance forms, Odissi is marked by lyricism and curved bodylines that evoke the images of the ancient sculptures of India. more about the artists

Jake Shimabukuro  
Saturday, Feb. 25,   8pm $40/35/30

With innovative flair and a repertoire that includes everything from classical and jazz to folk and bluegrass, Jake Shimabukuro is recognized as Hawaii’s ‘ukulele virtuoso. Gaining recognition with three Na Hoku Hanohano awards and four Hawaii Music awards, his third solo album “Walking Down Rainhill” has increased his national exposure by landing him on Billboard’s world music chart. more about the artists

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Dixie Hummingbirds   audio sampling
Tuesday, Feb, 28,   7pm $40/35/30

Just a Closer Walk with Thee: The Sacred Sound of New Orleans and Southern Gospel. more about the artists

Spanish Harlem Orchestra  
Sunday, Mar. 5,   7pm $40/35/30

In 2000, salsa giant Oscar Hernandez assembled the band that has become the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Dedicated to preserving the history of classic Latin dance orchestras, as well as writing and arranging new music for today’s audience, the band won Best New Artist at the 2003 Billboard Latin Music Awards. This year the band took honors with Best Salsa Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards. more about the artists

Ballet Folklorico de Philipinas   Ramon Obusan, Director
Saturday, Mar. 11,   8pm $40/35/30 MATINEE - Sunday Mar. 12, 1pm

With more than 400 costumes (most of them of tribal origin) ranging from wide lace skirts and pineapple thread blouses to the fine gold thread embroideries of Islamic origin. Each piece offers glimpses into the various ethnographic aspects of the Phillipines. From the rituals of the mountain dwellers of Luzon to the folk dances of Mindanao, audiences experience a blend of Spanish-Mexican influences and ancient tribal traditions. more about the artists

Garth Fagan Dance  
Saturday, Mar. 18,   8pm $45/40/35
“Only the greatest choreographers achieve true originality. It takes inventive genius to transform that familiar object,the human body, sometimes by turning it only a few degrees in one direction or another. Garth Fagan...is such a wizard.” - The Star-Ledger
The dancers in the Garth Fagan Dance company are renowned for their individuality and sheer physical virtuosity. Years of training in Fagan Technique, the teaching method Jamaican-born Garth Fagan developed when he started the ensemble in 1970, provides the dancers with their distinctive style of movement. Fagan, also renown for his choreography in the Broadway version of The Lion King, has created magnificent new works for the company’s 34th season. more about the artists

Matato’a   audio sampling
Tuesday, Mar. 21,   7pm $45/40/35

The most famous musical and dance group from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is Matato’a, a band that combines modern rhythm and instruments with the ancestral songs of its homeland. Playing a fusion of musical styles including Polynesian, reggae, rock, and jazz, Matato’a creates a sound that is both traditional and original. The band, formed in 1996, has recorded five albums and travels the world, promoting their culture and music. more about the artists

Ballet NY, Fugate/Bahiri Ballet  
Sunday, April 2,   7pm $45/40/35

Ballet NY was was founded in 1997 by the husband-and-wife team of Judith Fugate, former New York City Ballet principal ballerina and French-born Medhi Bahiri, former Boston Ballet dancer. Their mission: to make ballet fun and accessible; creating a company for promising new choreographers and accomplished, mature dancers. more about the artists

Smuin Ballet  
Wednesday, April 19,   7pm $45/40/35

This hip San Francisco ballet company, led by director and founder Michael Smuin, is appreciated by a wide-ranging audience. Founded in 1994, the company benefits from Smuin’s choreography, the epitome of fun and creativity. Dance Magazine has called the Smuin Ballet “one of this country’s most entertaining, original ballet troupes.” The company is known for its playful, theatrical, and sexy style, blending classical ballet with contemporary dance forms. more about the artists

The Brothers Cazimero  Special event - not part of the season
Saturday, June 3,   8pm $40/35/30

The popular Brothers Cazimero are back for their annual performance at KahiluTheatre. Consummate performers, the brothers have made their imprint on the Hawaiian music scene for over 30 years. Accompanied by acoustic bass and twelve-string guitar the brothers delight your ears with their rich, evocative music. The award-winning Brothers Cazimero Dancers provide a colorful, energetic palette for the eyes. more about the artists