Live Music at The Wailea Shops - Maui

Christmas magic was in the air on Thursday evening at the Shops in Wailea on Maui.

A beautiful tree, palm trees circled with lights, and to top it off, a live band playing Christmas tunes.
The pace was mellow and relaxing as shoppers wandered by, some eating icecream out of paper cups, children with eyes aglow in anticipation of Santa Claus and those, like us, who just felt like relaxing and listening to the music.

 The four piece band consisted of a tuba, a trombone and two trumpets.

Afterwards we talked to the people behind the instruments. Tuba player Lisa Owen is the director of the Maui Brass Ensemble and we found out that she leads serveral other groups on Maui. Originally from Sweden she has been playing music on the island for 20 years. Sonny Gamponia was on trombone and trumpet players Julius Galanto and Martin Berinbaum completed the quartet. It turns out that Martin Berinbaum is from Canada and visits Maui every year to play music. We had also seen him playing at the Sing-It-Yourself Messiah a few weeks ago so he really gets into the Maui music scene.

In 2003 Lisa started the Maui Community Band. This band has grown from a small gathering to 50 members ranging in age from 12 to 74 years. Lisa is also a member of the Maui Pops Orchestra so she keeps pretty busy.
If you enjoy a brass ensemble playing Christmas music you aren't too late.
 Today, Christmas Eve, the Maui Brass Ensemble will be playing at the Westin in Kaanapali from 4:30 to 5:30 and they will also be playing at the midnight service at the Good Shepherd Church in Wailuku from 10:30 to 12:30.