Project Director: J Scott Janusch
In 2017 Hawaii Symphony principal oboist J. Scott Janusch asked LMA to become fiscal sponsor for an exciting new project. As his gift to the Hawaii community that has nurtured his professional musical career, Scott directed the creation of a new oboe made of native Hawaiian kauila wood, and also commissioned a new musical composition featuring the kauila oboe. The oboe has been constructed at Howarth’s of London, and Jon Magnussen, noted Hawaii composer and professor of music at University of Hawaii – West Oahu, has composed the new work.
The new oboe was received in December 2018, and Magnussen’s new composition was performed in April and May 2019. Scott performed these first concerts introducing the kauila oboe, presented in chamber form by Chamber Music Hawaii and Live Music Awareness, and in symphonic form by the Hawaii Symphony. LMA retains ownership of the instrument, seeing to its ongoing care and maintenance, and controlling its use for concert and educational purposes.
Talks are underway with other community arts and educational institutions to secure a permanent home for the kauila oboe, with caretakers who will see that its unique voice continues to be heard far into the future.
Here is a video of Scott introducing the completed Hawaiian kauila oboe. It looks and sounds gorgeous!
The Hawaiian Oboe Legacy Fund was established to provide for the ongoing care and maintenance of the one-of-a-kind kauila wood oboe produced by the Hawaiian Oboe Legacy Project. Your donations are most welcomed. To contribute to this exciting project, please use the form below:
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