HYOC Ensembles
When: All Ensembles rehearse on Saturday Mornings
(times vary depending on ensemble)
Where: All rehearsals are at UH Manoa Music Dept.
HYOC accepts new students (K-12) in the Fall and Spring. Enrollment for Fall 2026 will open at the end of July. The first day of the new season will be 8/15/2026 . Please check back here for registration information.
Additionally, HYOC's summer program, OPERAtunities, will be accepting students for grades 5-12, and will run from 6/8/2026-6/27/2026. For more info and to enroll, please visit OPERAtunities 2026. Our enrollment deadline is 6/5/2026.
Costs (Annually)
$1130.00 to 1340.00 (Depending on ensemble - Coro, Cantilena, & Gioventu Musicale)
$415.00* (Hookahi) – additional on “Core” ensemble fees
$695.00 - $830.00 (Depending on ensemble - Bambini & Stelline & Angeli)
Please enjoy a Behind-The-Scenes look at our Saturday rehearsals, created by our own HYOC Alum: Maya Garcia
Bambini
Director: Nicole Sakata
Assistant Director: Nicole Huffman
Grades K-1.
We sing and play traditional songs, chants, and games from around the world to illustrate varied musical concepts. Hula in addition to eurythmic movement strengthens our body musicality. We have been hands on with both musical instruments as well as Smart Board technology to bring music into our bodies, hearts, and minds.
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Stelline
Director: Nicole Huffman
Assistant Director: Nicole Sakata
Grades K-1.
This year in Stelline we sing and dance “Aloha E Na Pua O Hawaii (Welcome, People of Hawaii)” in our hula mele and of other peoples by learning traditional songs and chants sung by children around the world. Hawaiian, Asian, Western, and African melodies are used to bridge cultures as well as teach musical concepts in games and in song. The beginnings of musicality are brought forth whether in singing concepts, ability, or movement. Hands on implements, teaching tools, and technology are all combined in our classroom learning.
Angeli
Director: Amanda Lippert
Accompanist: Wendy Chang
Grades 2 & 3. Students must have progressed through the Stelline
Ensemble. This is a beginning performing ensemble. As a prep-choir, students participate in weekly instruction. Students will perform in the 3-5 major performances HYOC presents each season that ALL HYOC members perform in including: Holiday & Spring Concerts, Ohana Day, Fundraisers etc.
Coro
Director: Amanda Lippert
Accompanist: Wendy Chang
Ages 8 - 10 / Grades 3 - 5 (New 3rd to 5th grade students enter in this ensemble). Coro is an entry-level ensemble. Their music retreat is a 2 day camp. This ensemble sings 2 part and some beginning 3 part treble
music and annually participates in the E Mele Kakou Children's Choral Festival. They are also eligible for touring as well as participating on the main opera stage with the Hawai'i Opera Theatre. Students are eligible to take optional / keyboard instruction.
Cantilena
Director: Joanna Habermann
Accompanist: Linda Asahina
Grades 6-8. Members of the Cantilena Ensemble are advanced forward from the Coro Ensemble. New enrollees are vocally assessed by the director for proper placement within the ensemble. Their music retreat is a 2 day overnight camp. This ensemble sings 3 part treble music and annually participates in the Na Leo Pili Mai Middle School Choral Festival. They are also eligible for touring as well as participating on the main opera stage with the Hawai'i Opera Theatre. Students are eligible to take both optional piano and class voice instruction
Gioventu Musicale
Director: Nola Nahulu
Accompanist: Phil Hidalgo
Grades 9-12. This ensemble was organized to support the singing of mixed
chorus (SATB) literature. This is an entry-level ensemble. Their music retreat is a 2 day overnight camp and annually participates in the high school
Choral Festival "Na Leo Hou". This ensemble participates in project focused musical learning experiences. They are also eligible for touring as well as participating on the main opera stage with the Hawai'i Opera Theatre. Students are eligible to take both optional piano and class voice instruction.
Ho'okahi
Director: Nola Nahulu
Accompanist: Wendy Chang
This is our select and touring group whose members are chosen annually from the Cantilena and Gioventu Musicale Ensembles. Membership is by
invitation only. Members of this ensemble are expected to attend an additional weekly chorus rehearsal, hula and Piano / Theory classes; in addition to attending their Core ensemble rehearsals. Students participate in the annual recital. This ensemble experiences a variety of advanced musical styles. This ensemble is the busiest ensemble in the organization, in
regards to performances each season, and requires a large commitment from its participants. Performance and music expectations are high; this ensemble typically sings three and four part advanced music.
