Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2813 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund, which is a separate fund of the Honolulu Symphony Trust.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; the Honolulu Symphony; the Musicians' Association of Hawaii, Local No. 677, American Federation of Musicians; the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee; Commercial Data Systems; and a private individual.

The State of Hawaii Endowment Fund is a separate fund of the Honolulu Symphony Trust. The income and capital gains from the fund are to be used for the production of music by an Oahu-based symphony orchestra as determined by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The Honolulu Symphony is an important cultural, educational, and economic asset that provides world-class music to Hawaii audiences. The symphony's mission is to "enhance the quality of life of the people of Hawaii by sustaining a symphony orchestra of the highest artistic quality, and to serve as a community leader for musical activities that include concerts, operas, ballet, and educational programs."

In addition to its community concerts series, each year the symphony brings music into the lives of over 30,000 children. Special youth concerts at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall give Hawaii's students a taste of the symphony experience. Symphony ensembles travel across the island to give Hawaii's children musical encounters that are up-close and personal. And as teachers, role models and mentors, symphony musicians prepare Hawaii's children to carry on a tradition of artistic excellence. More than eight hundred young musicians in Hawaii public and private schools have studied with symphony musicians.

As with most symphony orchestras in North America, however, annual income from ticket sales and financial support from state, county, and private entities has been insufficient to maintain a balanced budget. The Honolulu Symphony is at risk of losing many talented musicians and reducing the quality and consistency of its music, which will negatively impact the symphony's programs.

Your Committee finds that making an appropriation to fund the State of Hawaii Endowment Fund will provide the essential financial stability to ensure that the orchestra's vital music education and enrichment services will remain available and affordable for the general public and, most importantly, for the young people of Hawaii. This financial stability will also allow the Honolulu Symphony to develop new programs and further collaborations with other symphonic-related cultural organizations, such as the Hawaii Opera Theater and the Hawaii Youth Symphony. Your Committee believes this will not only provide a financial benefit to the individual organizations, but will also build the broader base of community support that is key to the growth of the Honolulu Symphony.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Media, Arts, Science, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2813 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.