Micheal D. Nakasone

Mr. Michael D. Nakasone has served as Director of Bands at Pearl City High School for 27 of his 36 years of teaching, having received his Bachelor and Masters of Music Education degrees from the University of Hawaii. Recognized as one of the premier concert band programs in the nation, the Symphonic Band performed this past year at the Hamamatsu International Band Festival in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Past performances include appearances at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association/Japan Bandmaster Association Convention, the American School Band Directors Association Convention (two times), the MENC National Biennial Convention, the Hawaii Music Educators Association convention, and Canadian Concert Tour. In addition to receiving numerous local honors and recognitions, his marching bands have performed for the Portland Rose Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade (four times), The Tokyo Ginza Parade, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (three times), the Blue-Gray Bowl Game, and half time shows for the NFL Pro-Bowl from 1980 through 2000 consecutively. In 1992 Mr. Nakasone’s Pearl City High School Band was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Flag of Honor in recognition of excellence in concert band performance. Mr.Nakasone was the recipient of the John Philip/Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor award in 1995 and was chosen as the Hawaii’s State Teacher of the year in 1996. That same year he received the United States Collegiate Wind Bands Citation of Honor Award, and in 1998 Mr. Nakasone received the Hawaii Music Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2002 he received the SBO (School Band and Orchestra) Recognition Award. In 2005, Mr. Nakasone Received the Governor’s Fine Arts award and the Music Educator of the Year award at 8th Annual Hawaii Music Awards. He served as director of the Pearl City Performing Arts Learning Center, conductor with the Hawaii Youth Symphony, and band director for Kamehameha High School Performing Arts Center. He is currently serving as Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band since February 16, 2005. Professional memberships include the ABA, ASBDA, MENC, NBA, HMEA, OBDA, NSTOY, and Phi Beta Mu.