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{{Short description|American symphony orchestra in Honolulu}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
[[File:Hawaii-Theatre-interior-ocean-side.JPG|thumb|250x250px|Main concert hall of the [[Hawaii Theatre]], where the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra performs]]
The '''Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra''', formerly known as '''Honolulu Symphony Orchestra''', was founded in 1900. It is the second oldest orchestra in the United States west of the [[Rocky Mountains]]. The orchestra now plays at the [[Hawaii Theatre]] and the renovated [[Neal_S._Blaisdell_Center#Concert_Hall|Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall]] in [[downtown Honolulu|Honolulu]]. Previous music directors included [[Fritz Hart]], [[George Barati]], Robert La Marchina, and [[Donald Johanos]].  [[Dane Lam]] is the current Music Director, having assumed the post in July 2023.

==History==
The symphony has undergone a series of transformations over the course of its first century. It has endured two World Wars, the [[Great Depression]], financial crises, and changing musical and cultural fashions.

The orchestra was originally housed in a clubhouse on the slopes of Punchbowl. From 1996 to 2004, the orchestra was under the direction of conductor [[Samuel Wong]].  In August 2007, [[Andreas Delfs]], became [[principal conductor]] of the orchestra.  He led seven concerts per season in the orchestra's Halekulani Masterworks series.<ref name="Playbillarts">{{cite web | last = Westphal | first = Matthew | url = http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6121.html | title = Andreas Delfs Named Principal Conductor of Honolulu Symphony| date = 6 March 2007 }}</ref>

On October 30, 2009, the Honolulu Symphony Society's board of directors voted to file for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] protection.  On November 6, 2009, the symphony announced the cancellation of concerts for the remainder of the 2009–2010 season. The organization said it was $1 million in debt and did not have enough money to support operations into November and beyond.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In May 2010, the symphony's leaders said their goal was to decrease annual expenses to $4 million, from $8 million previously. The symphony's 40-performance calendar would also be cut in half, with performances at smaller venues and different ticket prices, aiming to fill all seats with paying customers. The symphony was given an October 15 deadline to file its Chapter 11 plan of reorganization.<ref>{{cite news |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2010/05/19/honolulu-symphony-revamps-business-plan/ |title=Honolulu Symphony Revamps Business Plan |date=May 19, 2010 |author=Jacqueline Palank}}</ref>  In December 2010, it was announced that the symphony would be liquidated under [[Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code]] and end operations after 110 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Honolulu-Symphony-Board-votes-to-file-for-Chapter/n93IkDNVekir7-ISw8hEPA.cspx |title=Honolulu Symphony Board votes to file for Chapter 7 liquidation &#124; KHON2 Hawaii's News Leader |access-date=2010-12-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616213147/http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Honolulu-Symphony-Board-votes-to-file-for-Chapter/n93IkDNVekir7-ISw8hEPA.cspx |archive-date=2011-06-16 }}</ref>

In April 2011, a group of Hawaiʻi businesspeople called the Symphony Exploratory Committee announced efforts to revive the symphony. The committee bought out the symphony's assets, and negotiated a new three-year contract with the musicians, planning to open a new season in fall of 2011 under the new name "Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra".<ref>[http://www.khon2.com/mostpopular/story/Symphony-revived-new-season-planned-for-fall/DYJ-aua5IE-E2WxkQJobfw.cspx Symphony revived, new season planned for fall] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927105336/http://www.khon2.com/mostpopular/story/Symphony-revived-new-season-planned-for-fall/DYJ-aua5IE-E2WxkQJobfw.cspx |date=2011-09-27 }}, KHON-2, May 24, 2011</ref> [[JoAnn Falletta]] was appointed artistic director, and Steven Monder, former director of the [[Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra]], was appointed president.

In 2014, the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra debuted its popular series musicthatPOPS, featuring Broadway music, Disney in Concert, Cirque de la Symphonie and Zelda in Concert, among others.

Falletta now holds the title of Conductor Emeritus. [[Ignace Jang]] is the current [[concertmaster]].

==Conductors==

===Music Directors===
* 1932–1949 [[Fritz Hart]]
* 1950–1967 [[George Barati]]
* 1967–1979 Robert La Marchina 
* 1979–1994 [[Donald Johanos]]
* 1996–2004 [[Samuel Wong]]
* 2007–2010 [[Andreas Delfs]] (Principal Conductor)
* 2011–2023 [[JoAnn Falletta]] (Artistic Advisor)
* 2023–present [[Dane Lam]]

===Conductor Emeritus===
* 2023–present [[JoAnn Falletta]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.myhso.org/ Symphony website]
* [http://www.securehawaii.net/hawaiiromancefestival/ Archive of Hawaii Romance Festival 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328013840/http://securehawaii.net/hawaiiromancefestival/ |date=March 28, 2016 }}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1900]]
[[Category:Culture of Honolulu]]
[[Category:Wikipedia requested audio of orchestras]]
[[Category:American symphony orchestras]]
[[Category:1900 establishments in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Orchestras from Hawaii]]
[[Category:Video game music bands]]
[[Category:Film scores]]