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Guam Legislature presents certificates to local musicians, honors first Guam member of National Youth Orchestra
Summary
The Guam Legislature issued legislative certificates honoring Jamie Hsu for winning a seat in the National Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and recognized the Guam Philharmonic Foundation, the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra and several youth musicians who placed at an international festival in Vienna.
The Guam Legislature presented legislative certificates on the floor recognizing local musicians and arts organizations, including Jamie Hsu, a senior at St. John’s School who earned a seat with the National Youth Orchestra and will rehearse with NYO2 in New York before a European tour that includes Edinburgh.
Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani, legislative secretary of the 30th Guam Legislature, opened the presentations and read a certificate naming Hsu. “Because as every musician knows, the way to Carnegie Hall is simple. Practice, practice, practice,” Salas Matanani said, praising Hsu’s “passion, perseverance, and plenty of practice.”
The certificate ceremony also recognized the Guam Philharmonic Foundation, Inc., and the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra (TBYO) for arts education work on the island and commended five young musicians — Shiori Shibahata, Elijah Dixon, Kai Spence, Joanne Matsonani and Jasmine Zhao — for placing third in the symphony orchestra category at the 2024 Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna. Elijah Dixon, who plays oboe, accepted his certificate in person.
“The Guam Philharmonic and the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra have turned the volume up on artistic excellence and inspired a whole new generation,” Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani said while presenting the organization certificate. Senator Shelley Calvo, committee chair on arts and culture, told the students, “I’m so proud of you,” and praised the groups’ contributions to arts education on Guam.
A representative for the Guam Philharmonic Foundation accepted the recognition on behalf of Music Director Max Ronquillo, who was off island. Jamie Hsu, identified in the ceremony as concertmaster of the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra, said she was “really honored to be the first from Guam to perform with the National Youth Orchestra … and proud to be part of such a community.”
Dixon, who helped represent Guam in Vienna, said, “It was an honor to go over there and represent Guam. Thank you, senators, and thank you, Guam.” The lawmakers directed that the official expressions of recognition be sent on behalf of the people of Guam; certificates were signed by Speaker Frank Blas Jr., Acting Chairperson Chris Duenas and Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani, as recorded during the ceremony.
The presentations were purely ceremonial recognitions: no legislative votes or policy actions were taken during the ceremony. Lawmakers emphasized the role of local arts organizations and youth ensembles in music education and cultural life on the island and encouraged continued public and private support.
The ceremony concluded with photos and brief introductions from several TBYO members who identified their instruments, including violin (Hsu; Kelly Cho; Melody Cho), oboe (Dixon), percussion (Jonathan Fliss) and tuba (Kwame Yami).
