Kokua Line: Music conductor in viral video grew up in Honolulu and returns often

Question: My husband was listening to the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and he noticed that the conductor looked local. He Googled her name and it turns out that she is a Punahou graduate … . Does she ever come back here as a guest conductor?

Answer: Yes. Sarah Ha­tsuko Hicks, whose January 2018 guest appearance with the Danish symphony has been viewed millions of times online, said she still has family living in Honolulu (her mom) and returns to the islands often.

Some past visits have included guest stints with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, but she doesn’t have an upcoming appearance scheduled. “I’ve been back to work with the Symphony several times, although I don’t have any plans to be there this year,” she said in an email to Kokua Line.

Hicks is the Minnesota Orchestra’s principal conductor of “Live at Orchestra Hall,” a series that features popular music, jazz, world music, Broadway classics, movie scores, comedy and other genres. Offseason, she travels worldwide as a guest conductor with other symphony orchestras and is known for her elegant, energetic style and her affinity for film music.

Her 2018 guest appearance at Copenhagen Concert Hall was no exception. The live concert showcased music from Western and gangster movies. Videotaped selections from it continue to draw viewers on YouTube long after the Danish Broadcast Corporation aired the entire event. The most popular clip, featuring composer Ennio Morricone’s music from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” had racked up 19.4 million views as of Tuesday. See it at 808ne.ws/gbuhicks.

Hicks was born in Tokyo and raised in Honolulu, graduating from Punahou School in 1989. She later earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, where she majored in composition, and an artist’s diploma in conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music, according to the Minnesota Orchestra, which is based in Minneapolis. She is the first woman to hold a titled conductor post in that orchestra’s history, according to its website.

Q: Is bulky pickup supposed to proceed as usual throughout the month of May?

A: Yes. May is as scheduled under the monthly pickup system, in which city crews traverse designated neighborhoods on designated days to pick up bulky items left at the curb. May is the last month this general service will occur in metro Honolulu (Foster Village to Hawaii Kai.) Starting in June, crews will visit only households that have made an appointment to have bulky items collected.

Q: Will there be a limit on the number of appointments you can make?

A: Yes. “Only one appointment per address can be made per month,” according to the Department of Environmental Services.

There also are limits on the number of bulky items you can put out for collection at one time. Single-family homes may dispose of up to five bulky-waste items at a time, while multiunit residential buildings covered by this service may dispose of up to 20 items per appointment. Residents of multiunit buildings must schedule appointments through their property manager or association, to consolidate visits by the pickup crews.

Mahalo

Mahalo to the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team for a great year. You all made Hawaii proud. — Debbie

Mahalo

Mahalo to Andrew with the white Toyota truck. He was nearby and leaving when he saw our car wouldn’t start in the Longs Mililani Mauka parking lot. He kindly offered to help, cleaned the battery and jump-started our car. We greatly appreciated your kindness to take the time to help us. — Grateful seniors

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.