It was a dual vision when Sarah Tochiki and Megan Lawson created a youth program that helped children learn to play the violin.
They teamed up with Boys &Girls Club of Lihue, and started to brainstorm. In less than three weeks, with the help of the community, they raised $10,000 to get the program started.
Sunday, the Boys &Girls Club, with only 12 lessons under their belt, performed versions of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” while backed by Kauai Community College’s Symphony Orchestra.
Lawson, violin director of Lihue’s Boys &Girls Club, said she was amazed by how well her students performed with lessons just once a week.
“We wanted to provide a string program because on this island there are no string programs,” she said. “So we wanted to provide for this community access to string orchestra and string instruments.”
Sarah Tochiki is the director of the KCC Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra.
Asaka Herman, Boys &Girls Club Lihue clubhouse director, was thrilled to see her children on stage Sunday.
Juno Apalla, KCC Performing Arts Center’s manager, was there to show support.
Sponsors of the string program include Mokihana Club, Rotary Club of Poipu and individual donations from KCC’s instrumental ensembles.
The KCC Wind Symphony &Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert is at 7 p.m. today at the KCC PAC.
