The Buzz

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Many of us will be gathering around the dining table or in the living room or out in the garage celebrating with food and drink and hopes for the new year. But for those who want to celebrate on the town, we offer highlights for the eve that include fireworks displays, cruises, lounge acts, concerts and other revelry to welcome 2002. Here's a toast to you and yours! Click here.

Pianist Hannah Hsu Wang will offer a program of Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Ravel and DeBussy in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, 1822 Ke'eaumoku St. This is the Honolulu debut of Wang, who has performed at Lincoln Center and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, among others. 531-8930.

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Got the blues

It's the final KIPO Blues Night of 2001, but it's also the launching pad for the new compact disc by gospel/blues vocalist Keahi Conjugacion. The CD is titled "Live at the Atherton," and also features Dan Del Negro on piano; Lou Benanto, bass; Chuck James, drums; Carlinhos de Oliveira, percussion; Aaron Aranita, saxophone; Stephanie Dillard and Malcolm Rosal, backup vocals; and Corey Funai, backup vocals and harmonica. The concert gets under way at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Anna Bannanas, 2440 S. Beretania St. KIPO resident blues band Jeff Said No will be the opening act. Tickets are $7 general, $5 for Hawai'i Public Radio members. 955-8821.

Ode to the new year

The Honolulu Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony Chorus join to herald the new year in a concert of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Blaisdell Concert Hall. The final movement of the piece incorporates Friedrich von Schiller's "Ode to Joy"; among the featured voices will be Lea Woods Friedman, soprano; Lorna Mount, mezzo soprano; Daniel Weeks, tenor; and Quinn Kelsey, baritone. Also on the program will be Bach's Suite No. 3 in D Major. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday; conversations with maestro Samuel Wong will take place an hour before each performance. Tickets are $15-$55, available at the box office, Ticket Plus outlets and HonoluluSymphony.com. 792-2000, 526-4400.