Hawaiian conductor Ernest Taniguchi to perform with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica

Hawaiian classical conductor Ernest Taniguchi will be in Jamaica to be the guest conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Jamaica (POJ). Taniguchi will conduct the orchestra at a free concert at the Garrison Church of the Ascension, Up Park Camp on July 8.

Taniguchi, who is married to a Jamaican, previously worked with the brass musicians of the POJ and the Jamaica Military Band in 2014, when he held a three-day workshop in proper technique for the brass wind instruments.

Taniguchi is currently music director of the Brigham Young University Hawaii Chamber Orchestra, and the North Shore Symphonic Wind Orchestra.

He has also previously held the positions of Music Director of the Honolulu Community Concert Band (presently Honolulu Wind Ensemble). He spent several months in Japan observing Maestro Takashi Asahina, the former Music Director, of Osaka Philharmonic, and with Maestro Antoni Wit, former artistic director, Warsaw Philharmonic and currently Music Director, Orquesta Sinfonica de Navarra.

Recently, while Maestro Wit was guest conducting the St Petersburg Philharmonic in Russia, he appointed Taniguchi as his assistant to conduct the offstage brass musicians in Strauss' Eine Alpensifonie.

Since 2015, he has conducted the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Hawaiian Symphonic Band at various concerts and functions. Known for his innovative programming, Taniguchi has selected pieces from classical literature as well as from the growing body of Jamaican works for the concert in Jamaica. In keeping with theme of the week and his love of the brass winds, several of the pieces will feature the brass section of the orchestra.

Chairman of the POJ, Andrew Ho said, "Ernest's collaboration with the orchestra with his expertise as a brass clinician and a talented conductor will benefit us greatly. His willingness to share his knowledge with Jamaica is a wonderful act of kindness."