Who We Are

Founded in 1996, Arts Education For Children Group (AECG ) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for artistic and cultural enrichment for the youth of Maui. Additionally, AECG is committed to improving the quality of education in our schools by restoring music programs and raising public awareness about the importance of music participation for youth.

History of the Maui Invitational Band Festival

In 2003, Arts Education for Children Group partnered with other non-profit community service organizations including The County of Maui and the Hawaii Tourism Authority to sponsor the Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts 2003 Maui Concert Series. The ten day series of workshops and free concerts involved accomplished musicians from one of New York’s most accomplished performing arts groups and local musicians from Maui’s intermediate and high schools. In 2004, the series was expanded into the Maui Invitational Band Festival and participation by music students from Mahidol University’s College of Music in Bangkok, Thailand added an international component to the program. Building on the success of the previous two years, the 2005 Maui Invitational Band Festival introduced an exciting new component featuring performances and workshops by world-class professional musicians, including New York composer Carl Strommen, well-known jazz vibes percussionist, Emil Richards and popular Hawaiian musician/vocalist, Uluwehi Guerrero.

The 2006 Maui Invitational Band Festival will feature several known and accomplished musicians and clinicians including Emil Richards, who will provide instruction and perform side-by-side with student musicians participating in the Emil Richards Jazz Camp. The Maui Community Band under the direction of Lisa Owen will perform with the Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts wind symphony for two events. This year’s festival has also attracted the interest and participation of the famous Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA), which is planning to integrate a Maui-based component into their established summer rhythm camp and concert series. The 2nd Annual Maui Festival Orchestra concert will feature guest artists, 2006 Grammy Nominee Raiatea Helm, Peter-Rockford Espiritu and Honolulu’s Tau Dance Theater, Ballroom and Latin Dance Professional Rita O’Connor and Legendary Vocalist Emma Veary. Henry K. Allen and others will be bringing to students a wealth of experience. See artists and guest faculty.

The 2006 Maui Invitational Band Festival is co-sponsored by the County of Maui Department of Economic Development for the advancement of educational tourism. The Festival will host over 8 educational workshops and 7 live performances from June 26 – July 4, 2006. Education workshops and performances will provide unique opportunities for cultural and artistic exchange for resident and visiting participants while studying with world class professional instructors and performers.