FIVE QUESTIONS
'Bicycle Ride' goes for a symphonic spin

The Hawaii Youth Symphony's spring concert offers a program of classical music including "Bicycle Ride: A Symphonic Tone Poem," by Roosevelt High School senior Michael-Thomas Foumai. The concert will celebrate the youth symphony's 40th anniversary.

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Michael-Thomas Foumai: "As a composer, there are no limits to what you can do."

It's not that Foumai is lazy or anything. Not by a long shot. It's just that he's trying to finish high school, too.

The Roosevelt High School senior's "Bicycle Ride: A Symphonic Tone Poem" — a composition he wrote at age 16 — gets its symphonic premiere Sunday at "Past, Present, Future." The multi-work program — also featuring compositions by Richard Strauss, Otto Nicolai, Camille Saint-Saens and others — will be presented and performed by the Hawaii Youth Symphony as part of its 40th anniversary spring concert.

University of Hawai'i-Manoa professor emeritus of music composition Neil McKay called Foumai's "Bicycle" work "an impressive score. Michael seems to have an instinctive sense as to what orchestras can do in terms of tone, color and rhythm."

We gave Foumai the Five Questions treatment after school earlier this week.

You began playing the violin in the sixth grade, and composing by the seventh grade. What interested you in both?

"Well, first, my family is very musical. Everybody plays a musical instrument, so it only seemed right to play one, too. My sister plays piano and clarinet. My mom plays piano and organ. My father plays guitar. My brother plays piano.

"When I was in the seventh grade, I really didn't like to play the music I was being given. That's when I decided to write my own music ... music that I would want to play.

"The (musical works given in school) were kindergarten-based exercises. They weren't very challenging.

"There's a quote I like from another composer, John Cage. He said, 'It is better to (make) a piece of music than to perform (one).' I think that's true. I can use my imagination more when composing a piece (whereas if) I simply play a piece I have to interpret what the composer wanted. That uses some part of the performer's expression. But as a composer, there are no limits to what you can do.

"I taught myself (at first) by studying other composers' works and recordings."

Was "Bicycle Ride" inspired by the obvious?

"Actually, I don't know how to ride a bicycle. 'Bicycle Ride' is more like a journey. The bicycle ride is a metaphor for the journey in life that I'm taking right now.

"It incorporates what most teenagers encounter in high school life — relationships, friendships (up to the point) when as a senior, you have to look toward the future.

" 'Bicycle Ride' has a continuous build-up until the end. It gets faster and faster and faster, louder and louder and louder ... looking toward the future."

Do you get any inspiration from rock or pop composers, or are you strictly a classical fan?

"I take a lot of inspiration from film scores, and composers like John Williams, James Horner and Jerry Goldsmith. They're my idols.

"Their music tells a story. It takes the listener on an adventure. ... Their music (stands) without the movie or the picture.

"I have a lot of CDs — all of 'em, basically, film scores (and) classical. ... I listen to them walking home from school, during lunch breaks, when I'm about to go to sleep. ...

"I'm afraid I'm not a rock fan.

"The closest thing to rock for me would probably be the film score from 'The Rock.' " (Laughs.)

Where do you see yourself in 10 or 20 years?

"If I major in composition, I hope to be writing and conducting film scores, or conducting my own pieces in a concert hall.

"If I major in music education, I'd like to teach a high-school music program. I work with high school students now. And there's a certain energy that they give that I find college students don't. ... The sense of accomplishment is greater in high school."

The best part of composing "Bicycle Ride" has to be finally hearing a real orchestra play it.

"For me, it's unbelievable that an orchestra as good as the youth symphony will be playing one of my pieces.

"I thought that in order to have one of my pieces played by a good orchestra, I'd have to wait until I had a college degree, was teaching or was already known. Just the thought that a recognized symphony is going to perform one of my pieces is very exciting.

"I can't believe I'm hearing what I'm hearing (in rehearsals). What I heard in my mind and on the computer is now being played by more than a hundred students — each of them blowing air or pulling on strings.

"It's surreal."

Reach Derek Paiva at 525-8005 or dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Olivia is back in town

Peter King

North Shore-raised pop/punkers Olivia the Band comes home for a show at Hawaiian Islands Ministries' "When He Comes" worship hour and music concert with contemporary Christian vocalist Marc Schultz. A couple of years ago, after finishing high school, the foursome relocated to San Diego. Since then, they have made a name for themselves on the national Christian rock scene. Olivia's self-titled debut, released in February, got a radio hit from "Shut It Out," which climbed to No. 6 on Radio & Records Christian Rock charts.

• 8:30 p.m. today/ Hawai'i Convention Center / $25 pre-sale, $35 at the door / 988-9777