3 bands perform in outdoor concert

  Hundreds of spectators were treated to a night of live musical entertainment Monday as talented musicians from three different bands out of Korea and Saipan took center stage at the American Memorial Park to kick off the Korean Culture Festival in Saipan.

The outdoor concert brought together the Hwasun Elementary Brass Band, Saipan Southern High School Manta Ray Concert Band, and Saipan Pacific Winds Concert Band, a demonstration of cultural and artistic exchange between Saipan and Korea.

Saipan Mayor Donald Flores, in his welcoming remarks, said the concert proudly supports not only the young band members but also brings the two communities together, allowing them to foster a relationship based on unity and solidarity.

“Cultural and social tolerance must triumph so we can understand differences of any kind and bring enrichment to our relationship,” said Flores, who also thanked the concert organizers for working hard to make the event possible.

The Saipan Pacific Winds Concert Band served as the opening act for the concert which was also a fundraising event to help the Manta Ray Band reach its target amount of $250,000 which would allow them to fly to London in July to perform for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Co-conductor Will DeWitt led the Saipan Pacific Winds Band Concert Band as they performed music by John Philip Sousa, the March King, Frankie Valli, and the Four Seasons’ medley, 7th Night of July, and A Bug’s Life.

Manta Ray Concert Band then took the limelight as they offered their very eager audience a taste of their London performance, playing their showpieces such as Urban Dances, a medley of King of Jazz Duke Ellington’s music, and Daiki Kato’s Mariana Variations, which is inspired by the CNMI National Anthem.

Manta Ray’s performance of Earth, Wind, & Fire hits as well as the theme of the Austin Powers movie also drew rounds of applause from the spectators.

SSHS principal Jesse Tudela expressed his appreciation for the community’s support to raise funds for the award-winning concert band which has been invited to perform in front of an international audience.

Highlighting the concert was the Hwasun Elementary School Brass Band comprised of some 60 fifth and sixth graders who hail from Jeollanam-do region. The Korean youngsters captivated the Saipan crowd not only with their knack for playing brass instruments but also for their flair in grooving to the beat.

Hwasun school principal Choi Yun Chang said this is the second time that their group has been invited to perform on Saipan, having performed for the 223rd American Independence Day.

“We are honored and grateful for our second invitation to Saipan. We will be looking forward to your visit to Korea,” Choi said after presenting certificates of appreciation to Mayor Flores and SSHS principal Tudela.

The group also did community service through a beach cleanup in Managaha and a visit to the Aging Center yesterday. They are scheduled to visit the Department of Public Safety in Susupe today.