Caption:Professor Siuai Laufou, currently the Director of Bands at the Kamehameha School in Hawaii, joins ASCC students for a session during the Music Worshop currently underway at the College. The Workshop continues through the 30th of this month, and is open to all high school band leaders and musicians. (Photo:
J. Kneubuhl)

During the workshop, the first of its kind initiated by the ASCC Fine Arts Department, Laufou is focusing on the development of concert bands, marching bands and orchestra.  “This will benefit not only our ASCC students, but also band instructors in elementary and high schools,” said Dr. Pouesi. “As part of our college mission to serve the community through our music programs, we would like to invite all music instructors and students interested in band music to participate.”     

            Mr. Laufou holds a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from California State University, Los Angeles. He graduated from the Dick Grove School of Music Composition and Arranging program. He obtained his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music Education from the Brigham Young University-Hawaii. He has studied
composition/arranging with Dick Grove, Goh Misawa, David Caffey, and Byong yun Kim. In Hawaii, Laufou served as band instructor at Damien Memorial High School, Kahuku High School, and the Kamehameha Schools Middle School Kapalama Campus. In California, he served as band director of the South Gate City Youth Band, in South Gate, Lynwood Unified School District, and the St. Juliana Schools, in Fullerton. Laufou worked as a music judge for the Southern California Judging Association, the Hawaii Music Pageantry Festival, the Kamehameha School Tournament of Bands, Kahuku High School Band Festival, and the Oahu Band Directors Solo and Ensemble festivals.

Laufou has composed and arranged for high school groups and professional ensembles in Hawaii, California, and Utah, with some of his music arrangements performed during the Pasadena Rose Parade in California, the Macy Thanksgiving Parade in New York, and by the Maui Pops Symphony Orchestra. He has written arrangement for a variety of artists including Hawaii’s legendary singer Emma Veary, and Grammy nominee and Na Hoku Winner Raiatea Helm. His current projects include commission arrangements for the Kamehameha School Maui String Orchestra to be premiered in May 2007 at the Carnegie Hall in New York, a parade feature for the 2008 Pasadena Rose Parade by the Kamehameha Schools Marching band, the Maui Middle School Massed Band, the Maui District Music Festival in April 2007, and String Orchestral arrangements for a “Tribute to the Beatles” CD project by Maui artist, Brian Mansano.

            Recalling his childhood in the village of Mapusaga fou, Laufou reminisced, “I have vivid memories of walking to school come rain or come shine, and even of the wild dogs that I had to fend off on the way. Someday I may write a suite based on those experiences.” After Laufou attended elementary school at Faleniu and Pavai’ai, his family relocated to California in 1972, and he began his long journey to the distinguished career he enjoys today. Laufou says that during the various workshop sessions, he is covering topics such as instrument care, tone production, music reading and group dynamics for brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments. Each session includes time set aside for questions and answers.
  

Although the workshop is currently underway, interested bandleaders and high school musicians can still register to attend various sessions of their choice. Those interested should contact Namulauulu Dr. Paul Pouesi by calling the main ASCC switchboard at 699-9155 and asking for the Music Department. You can also reach Dr. Pouesi by email at: p.pouesi@amsamoa.edu. A special registration fee of $25 per student and $50 per instructor will apply, to help accommodate the clinician’s fees and expenditures.

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