Meet the Directors
Grant K. Okamura
Director of Bands / Wind Ensemble & Fall Band Director
Grant K. Okamura is Director of Bands at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his Symphonic Wind Ensemble brought high praise for their performances at the 1994 American Bandmasters Association and the 1996 College Band Directors Nation Association/Northwestern Convention. Mr. Okamura has conducted the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra in their community and educational concert series and formed and conducted the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, an ensemble comprised of musicians of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and students at the University of Hawaii. He also served as the Musical Director of the Hawaii Youth Symphony from 1979 to 1984.
Mr. Okamura began his career at nationally acclaimed McKinley High School in Honolulu, where his bands were consistently commended for their superior musicianship. Among their many honors, the McKinley High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble was the first western band to perform in China since the Communist Revolution in 1949.
Mr. Okamura serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and Canada. He is a past President of the Oahu Band Directors Association and the Hawaii Music Educators Association, and an active member of the American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, and the Hawaii Band Directors Association.
Brandt A. Payne
Associate Director of Bands / Marching Band & Symphonic Band Director
Brandt Payne is Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Rainbow Warrior Marching Band. In the Department of Music he teaches beginning conducting and marching band techniques. He is also conductor of the Symphonic Band.
Prior to his appointment at the University of Hawaii in July, 2005, Payne served for one year as Interim Associate Director of Bands and Studio Trombone Teacher at the University of Wyoming. At Wyoming he took the Western Thunder Marching Band to the 2004 Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl. Prior to his service at Wyoming, Mr. Payne served as Director of Bands at Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Iowa.
A native of Iowa, Mr. Payne holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trombone performance and teacher certification from The University of Iowa and a Master of Music degree in trombone performance from Arizona State University. He is the author of several literature and recording reviews that have been published in the International Trombone Association Journal. Mr. Payne is also the author of articles that have appeared in the Wyoming Music Educators Journal, Windsong, and schoolmusic.com. His professional memberships include the College Band Directors National Association and the International Trombone Association.
Gwen H. Nakamura
Assistant Band Director / Concert Band Director
Gwen Nakamura is Assistant Band Director, Assistant Director of the Marching Band and Director of the Concert Band at the University of Hawaii. She received her Bachelor of Education in Music and Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Hawaii. She conducts and writes shows for the Marching Band and is the conductor of the Pep Bands.
Miss Nakamura is an accomplished saxophonist and bassoonist and has taught applied music for the University of Hawaii on the saxophone. She has many secondary students on both the saxophone and bassoon. Before coming to the University she led successful band programs at Castle High School and Kahuku High School.
Her professional affiliations include the National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Hawaii Music Educators Association, and the College Band Directors National Association.
Patrick Hennessey
Jazz Ensemble Director
Patrick Hennessey has directed the Jazz Ensemble Director for the past 14 years and has also served as applied instructor on lower brass instruments. He received his Bachelor of Music from California State University at Long Beach and his Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Hawaii. He is presently working toward his Ph.D. in Musicology at the University of Hawaii.
Mr. Hennessey is a trombonist with the Royal Hawaiian Band, performs with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and freelances in his spare time. He has conducted the Oahu Band Directors Association's High School Select Stage Band and will be conducting it again in 1997. He is a much sought after clinician in jazz and trombone.
Richard S. Lum
Director of Bands, Emeritus
Richard S. Lum is a Professor of Music, Emeritus, at the University of Hawaii, where he served with distinction as Director of Bands for more than 25 years. He was instrumental in building both the concert and marching bands into organizations that were regarded as among the best in the nation.
Previous to his appointment to the University, Lum directed the Kaimuki Intermediate School Band and the McKinley High School Band, where he laid the foundation for that organization to attain national prominence.
Mr. Lum served as president for the Hawaii Music Educators Association, and was a founder and past president of the Oahu Band Directors Association. He was also State Chairman of the College Band Directors National Association and the National Band Association.
During his years as Director of Bands at the University of Hawaii, Richard S. Lum guest conducted the United States of America Armed Services Bicentennial Band from Ft. Mead, Maryland, the University of Tennessee Band, the Arizona State University Band, the University of Illinois Band, and the Northshore Community Band in Evanston, Illinois. He also directed high school honor groups such as the Symphony of Winds at the Mid-East Band Conference, the Tri-State Honor Band in Enid, Oklahoma, the University of the Pacific Summer Honor Band and the University of Tennessee High School Honor Band.
In 1971, Lum was invited to membership to the American Bandmasters Association, and in 1972, was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Mu as honorary national member. In 1973, he was selected by the School Musician Magazine as an outstanding conductor in the United States and Canada for the school year of 1974-1975. In 1975, State Senator Stanley I. Hara introduced a resolution commending Professor Lum for his active role in promoting music education in the state of Hawaii. In 1979, he was selected by the All-American Magazine as Band Director of the year. In 1987 his alma mater, McKinley High School, installed him into the school's Hall of Honor.
Mr. Lum retired from the University in 1985.
