Now Available for Performance

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About the Instruments

 Belgium-based luthier Tim Duerinck, in collaboration with Mana Music Hawaiʻi founder Joshua Nakazawa and HoGent College University, has developed a fleet of flax fiber string instruments that arrived in Honolulu earlier this month. These instruments—two violins, a viola and a cello—are the first of their kind in the nation and provide environmentally-friendly and durable options for string musicians working in Hawaiʻi.

Flax fiber is a material made from the bast of the flax plant. It has a strong local history in Belgium and can be used as a natural, more sustainable alternative for carbon or glass fiber. Typically, string instruments are made from different types of wood, which can be costly and fragile. In Hawaiʻi’s tropical climate, they can easily be damaged due to the heat and humidity. With so many weddings, parties and other events being held outdoors, the fragility of traditional instruments are detrimental to musicians across the state and beyond.

“Through creating these flax fiber instruments, we hope to provide options for musicians that are less expensive and have the ability to last longer than traditional instruments,” said Duerinck. “With Josh’s help, we’ve been able to get a comprehensive understanding of how they work in different kinds of atmospheres and are thrilled with the results.”

With support from HoGent College university and the University of Ghent, Duerinck began researching and developing the first flax fiber instrument in [2018]. Nakazawa saw his work featured in various publications and reached out to inquire about making instruments for Mana Music. After some discussion, Duerinck made a flax fiber cello for Nakazawa to test in various settings in Hawaiʻi. The feedback led to this group of four beautifully-crafted instruments with goldleaf inlays of unique designs inspired by the flora and fauna of the islands.

“It’s honor to be working with Tim at the forefront of this kind of instrument innovation. He has done a terrific job of creating a durable instrument that sounds amazing, too,” said Nakazawa. After trying it in concert halls with a full orchestra and with smaller ensembles outdoors, it’s clear that this development will have a substantial impact on musicians both here and across the world.”

The flax fiber instruments can be selected for an additional cost when booking Mana Music LLC Locally in Hawaii, or internationally with the Mana Music Quartet, a string ensemble comprised of cellist Joshua Nakazawa, owner and founder of Mana Music LLC and a tenured member of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra; violinist Eric Silberger, a prize winner of the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition who performs regularly worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician with renowned orchestras and musicians; violinist Dr. Mann-Wen Lo, a professor in violin performance at the University of Houston, who regularly performs as a chamber musician and soloist throughout the US; and violist Duane Padilla, a 2011 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner for jazz album of the year, who currently serves on the board for the American String Teachers Association and teaches violin performance at the Punahou school.

A portion of the proceeds from Mana Music Quartet’s flax fiber performances will be donated to the Coral Reef Alliance, supporting its mission to keep coral reefs healthy, so they can adapt to climate change and survive for generations to come.

Environmental and Arts Donation (Instruments for the Environment)

Instruments for the Environment: Goal
Instruments for the Environment is a project collaboration between Mana Music Hawaii and artist/luthier Atelier Tim K. Duerinck. The project goal will be to provide a multifaceted platform that raises awareness and promotes environmental restoration using a musical and artistic medium.

These instruments, as playable art, will serve as a symbolic gesture of giving back to the environment and represent the sentiment that if everyone pitches in a little bit, that we could fix our community together. The beauty of the instruments and playing on them inspire others to give back to the community and environment . The project provides artists and musicians an opportunity to collaboratively use their mediums to tangibly improve our environment.

*See the scientific study from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America for more information on the making of instruments using natural fiber.

Original artwork will be created for this fundraiser by Luke DeKneef and will be available for purchase (TBD). Contact: Luke DeKneef, Insta: @landrexd, Facebook.com/LukeDeKneef

Luke DeKneef is a self-taught artist born and raised on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, USA. Growing up surfing on the north shore, he developed a fascination with waves and the movement of water. Early in his career, DeKneef painted plumeria clusters growing in lush valleys, majestic Hawaiian mountains standing tall at sunrise, and turbulent blue waves cascading on the surface of the ocean. His early works sparked a curiosity for what lives under the surface, where he explored the movement of waves from the ocean floor and the refraction of light under water.

From small canvases to large-scale murals, DeKneef’s art embodies the relationship between humans and the ocean. He uses acrylic and aerosol mediums to create his visions.

Now, DeKneef explores new subjects that stretch his creative thinking. While the ocean still influences his work, he’s developing a passion for a variety of subjects that question our role as caretakers of the planet.

The Mana Music Quartet

Joshua Nakazawa, Cellist: Mana Music Hawaii Founder
Insta: @manamusichawaii
After his classical training at Manhattan School of Music, Josh, a native of Boston MA, set on a musical path that continues to lead him around the globe. Josh has performed Solo, Chamber and Orchestral music at the Banff Music Festival in Canada, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and the Spoletto Music Festival in South Carolina. After playing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and in addition to his current full time position with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, he also plays with the Hawaii Opera Theater and as a guest musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Joshua currently plays on A Johann Baptist Schweitzer cello from 1831.  Joshua continues also to collaborate with locally based artists Jake Shimubakuro, Ron Artis II and Paula Fuga after debuting at Blue Note Hawaii, and the Wakiki Shell in 2017 for Jack Johnson’s Kakua festival. Joshua is a longtime supporter of community music outreach education, and is always looking for fun and creative ways to tie culture, passion, people, and music together. 

Eric Silberger, Violinist: Hawaii International Music Festival Co- Founder
Insta: @violindragon
From prestigious concert halls around the world to an Icelandic volcano, virtuoso violinist Eric Silberger’s performances have been described by critics as “spine- tingling...astonishing” (The Guardian), “dazzling virtuoso playing” (The Washington Post), “impeccable level of playing, a wonderful musician” (The Strad). “ ....he has got everything in his favour, technique, composure and personality.” (El Pais, Spain).

He is a prize winner of the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in 2011.

Eric plays on a rare J.B. Guadagnini violin made in 1757 on generous loan from the Si-Yo Music Society Foundation and Sau-Wing Lam collection. Eric is a co-founder of the Hawaii International Music Festival and Executive Director of Strings at Classical Bridge International Music Festival of New York City.

For more about Eric visit him at https://www.ericsilberger.com.

Mann-Wen Lo, Violinist
Insta: Mannwen21
A native of Taiwan, internationally acclaimed violinist Mann-Wen Lo has performed extensively throughout the world in some of the most prestigious venues. Featured on radio and TV broadcast in the States, Taiwan, Japan and France, Ms. Lo is also a prize winner of numerous awards and competitions. Her festival appearances include Yellow Barn Chamber Music Festival, Hawaii Chamber Music Festival, Menuhin Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Franco-American Chamber Music Festival. As a chamber musician, she has collaborated with concertmasters of the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Orchestre National de Lyon, Danish National Chamber Orchestra, as well as members of some of the world's best string quartets such as the Juilliard String Quartet, the Ysaye Quartet, the Cleveland Quartet and the Takacs Quartet. Ms. Lo has been featured as a guest artist for Camera Lucida in San Diego, and as young artist in residence of the Da Camera Society in Los Angeles. Ms. Lo is a member of the up and rising conductor-less chamber ensemble Delirium Musicum.

In addition to classical music, Ms. Lo also explores Jazz and Bluegrass; she has performed with Grammy Award-winning banjo player Béla Fleck, and is a member of the Kaleidoscope Trio - an innovated ensemble with clarinet, violin and guitar.

Ms. Lo plays on a 1925 Guiseppe Fiorini violin on generous loan from the Chi Mei Culture Foundation in Taiwan.

Duane Padilla, Violist
Insta: @duanepictures
After earning degrees from Northwestern University and Yale University, concert artist and educator, Duane Padilla began his performance career as an orchestral musician, performing with the National Repertoire Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the New Haven Symphony, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra.  Also an active classical chamber music performer, his ensemble The Gemini Duo was a semi-finalist in the prestigious International Concert Artists Guild Competition in NYC, and earned outreach grants from Chamber Music America and the American Federation of Musicians and was a featured ensemble on the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Performing Artist Roster and the CMA Rural Residency Artist Roster. Duane's more recent artistic endeavors have turned towards jazz. As a founding member of The Hot Club of Hulaville, he won the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts's award for jazz album of the year for their gypsy jazz release "Django Would Go!". His subsequent solo jazz violin album "Sentimental Swing" was named one of the top 40 jazz releases of 2011 by the South African Jazz Educators Association.  Recent concert collaborations include duo performances with Pianist Tommy James (Music Director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra NYC), fingerstlye guitar legend Jeff Linsky,  Guitarist Paul Mehling (Hot Club of San Francisco), Grammy winning Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarist Jeff Peterson, and Jazz Ukulele Grand Master Ben Chong.

For more about Duane Padilla visit him at https://www.duanepadilla.com/bio.html