Sai-Dudoit performanceCalamaura“
A versatile artist who can hit very high notes and play his own accompaniment, University Hawaii Manoa student hair oar Sai Dudwa It’s no stranger to play.he sang and played ukulele Since he was 9 years old, he was recently named the 20th Annual Richard’s Winner. Hoopii Leo Kiequie falsetto contest.
This competition provides a platform to protect and perpetuate Leos kiʻekiʻe (Falsetto) – A style of music that involves singing in a higher than normal range. Sai-Dudoit was one of her five singers to enter this year’s contest in Maui in September. In addition to his number one title, he added,Calamaura“
“It was a good environment for Hawaiian music,” says Sai-Dudoit. “We all enjoy Hawaiian music and understand its value.”
Although this was her first time entering a contest, Sai-Dudoit’s expertise in falsetto singing has been developed over the years. His interest in falsetto began during his senior year. His substitute teacher happened to be the granddaughter of Genoa Keawe, a prolific Hawaiian falsetto singer, who introduced her class to Hawaiian falsetto singing. He has continued to sing since then and continues to hone his craft, entering a wide range of singing competitions through Mana Maori in 2021. This year, at the recommendation of Mana Maori’s vocal coach, he decided to enter the falsetto contest.
“There is a certain purity, clarity in singing falsetto,” said Sai-Dudoit. “For me, it feels good to sing it, to be able to express the words in a way that people can see and enjoy it.”
pedigree of a musical family
Sai-Dudoit’s contest work “Calamaura,” is a famous Hawaiian falsetto song with a special family connection.It was written by Emma Cara Dudois — great-grandmother on his late father’s side. Ohana Including his relationship with Horace K. Dudois Ⅲa founding member of the Grammy-nominated group HookenaHis mother’s family has its own musical lineage.His mother is Marlene Sai’s niece. Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
“A lot of people pick songs because ‘this sounds great’ or ‘this is the standard’, but the songs I choose have a connection to them,” Sai-Dudoit explains. “I chose this song as a way of honoring aspects of my family, my father and my great-great-grandmother.”
In addition to rehearsing the performance, Sai-Dudoit spent the month leading up to the competition doing extensive research. Since “Calamaura‘ is an old song, with many of the lyrics passed down vocally over time. To uncover the original complete lyrics, Sai-Dudoit carefully examined his early 1900s Hawaiian-language newspapers.
Hawaiian language meets business
Ke Kula Class of 2021 Oh Nawahiokalaniopuu immersion school Hawaii I am a second year student majoring in Hawaiian at the Kawaihuelani Center for the Hawaiian Language on the island of Sai Dudwa. hmm Manoaz Hawaii Inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. In addition to studying Hawaiian, I am also taking courses at Siddler College of Business.
By fusing the Hawaiian language with business, Sai-Dudoit hopes to revive the Hawaiian language using skills acquired through business studies. Specifically, he has an interest in the music industry and his business studies give him an entrepreneurial background that will help him succeed in that enterprise.
“Hawaiian is fun, interesting, and thought-provoking. I’m trying to reintroduce the language and its attributes to business, a field that once flourished,” says Sai-Dudoit.
-to Alisha Charma