CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Moanalua High School symphony orchestra will be going to Carnegie Hall in March for an encore performance. Lauren Ho, left, and Mina Blanco practice playing the violin.
Moanalua’s Seta raises
orchestra’s bar
A steady hum of laughter, chatter and string instruments fills the orchestra room. Without any warning, the sounds stop.
Music Director Elden Seta has given his students the signal, and the Moanalua High School orchestra is sitting at attention. "Good afternoon, sir," they respond in unison.
Seta's demand for strict discipline as well as musical performance drew an invitation for the orchestra to play at New York's Carnegie Hall several years ago and a second invite that came a month ago.
"Carnegie Hall still talks about our performance in 1998," Seta said. "It was just super. But I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing; I never thought it would happen again."
He got the second invitation two weeks before the band was leaving for the International Band Festival in Japan last month. Knowing it would be hard for parents and the school to finance a trip two years in a row, Seta said he had to consult with everyone before giving a final answer.
But when Carnegie Hall called him two weeks later and said they were still "holding a spot open for us," Seta said he couldn't say no. They will appear March 20 with two other groups in the annual Debut Series in which they first performed, he said.
Seta throws his body and soul into coaxing the best from his students -- "if you're going to spend time at this, do the best you can; don't settle for anything less."
His passion for the music is contagious, and he exudes the same ferocious energy whether it's a public performance or classroom session, his pupils say.
Seta keeps the beat with a stomping foot -- no shoes -- clicking fingers, pumping arms and swaying his torso. Though he holds a baton, he really uses his facial expressions, voice and body to conduct his students. In public performances, however, he isn't allowed to use his voice, which is chronically hoarse.
"Ba bumba bum bum," Seta sings in between exhorting his students with phrases like:
"Now, make it soar!" "Make it dance! Just go for it!" "Come in with attitude!" He claps his hands loud and fast to up the intensity: "Go! Go! Go!"
He rehearses with the 40 students after school because the 90-member orchestra is so big there isn't enough school time get together.
Emi Tano, a freshman who has played violin for four years, said "he disciplines us very well, (but) it's not so boot-camp formal. He makes us laugh, jokes around with us ... and we can go to him for advice.
"He's so dynamic. A lot of teachers just go though a routine, but with Mr. Seta it's an adventure. He makes the music more exciting. He expresses his love for the music, and we reciprocate. ... You can't help but love it, too."
Junior Ben Crocker, who plays bass, said "the standards (in Seta's class) are so much higher. It feels good to belong to a group where everyone is equally passionate."
Eric Chong, a junior who plays cello, said with the prospect of going to Carnegie, they've all felt the need to practice a lot more.
"We don't want to mess up; we want to feel we earned it," added Crocker.
Seta said his kids respond positively to the discipline because they "understand that what they do and how hard they push now affects them their whole lifetime. We have focus, discipline and respect for each other.
"To play good music takes not just playing notes in tune or in time, it takes basic human discipline -- which they don't get enough of -- just being on time, and their attendance shows how important they know their role is. They give their heart every second we're together."
