“I do not know anyone more deserving of this award than Mrs Hafner - a passionate and dedicated teacher who personalizes each lesson to the individual needs of each of her students. Her love and enthusiasm for music is contagious, and she has made a considerable impact on the lives of every student she has ever taught.” -- Studio Parent
Hawaii MTA is proud to announce violinist Katharine Hafner as the 2021 HMTA Teacher of the Year for her excellence in teaching and significant contribution to the local music community. She is a leader and mentor in our community, and her dedication and commitment to music education is inspiring to us all.
We want to thank our judges Dr. Robert Littman, Karen Masaki and Susan Ochi-Onishi for their time and expertise.
Kathy’s multifaceted and vibrant participation in the musical life in Hawaii ranges from 3-year-old beginners to advanced students performing major concertos; from individuals in the studio to her work as Orchestra Director at ‘Iolani School; and from her 40-year career as a professional musician with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra to the organizational and administrative work in bringing festivals, masterclasses, seminars, teacher training and professional development to the Hawaii community.
As a studio teacher, many of her students have gone on to conservatories and live as professional musicians; many others have enjoyed music as an amateur and share their passion with friends and families, and are the enthusiastic audience members we love. For over 30 years, her students have been prizewinners in state and local competitions. Travel that she organized has brought life-changing experiences to hundreds of students over the past 40 years.
As Orchestra Director at ‘Iolani School, she transformed a lackluster program to the best in the state. The 'Iolani orchestras have won national and international awards:
ASTA's NOF competition: two times national champion
The Midwest Clinic International Conference: ‘Iolani Orchestra is the first and only orchestra from Hawaii to be invited to this premiere international conference, the equivalent of winning a national competition, and has done it twice
The Lincoln Center Award
The American Prize in Orchestral Performance
Invited directly by the Pope to perform in Rome
In the community, Kathy recreated and ran the state Solo/Ensemble Festival for 30+ years, organized innumerable workshops, masterclasses and professional advancement events for students and teachers. She produced the first and only Suzuki summer institute and teacher training program in Hawaii. She served on the HMTA Board (1990-94 and currently as Secretary), and is a longtime board member of the Suzuki Association of Hawaii.
Her collaborative mindset has led to many inspiring ventures. The Hawaii Suzuki tour group she created gave advanced players a chance to travel (Navajo reservation, Banff, New Zealand, Italy, etc.), to make global connections and to promote the values and accomplishments of students from Hawaii. She was invited to participate in the canonization ceremony of Mother Marianne at Kalaupapa (the former leprosy community on Molokaʻi), which brought together Hawaiian history and student musicians in this unique and historic event (the canonization of a new saint).
People like to do what they do well; the teacher must create the environment and pedagogical approach that ensures that each student will succeed. Kathy's teaching approach and "Road to Success" blends her experiences as a professional musician with pedagogical considerations. It includes a lot of focused work, time management and some sacrifice. Being organized and disciplined allows one to realize one's potential. Teaching reminds the professional of fundamentals, while playing as a professional reminds one of the highest standards, and that students should not be satisfied with anything less than their best.
“It takes a village to raise a child … Kathy has taught them how to play music well, and in the process they have deepened their capacity for preparation, concentration, discernment, expression, patience, and resiliency. But beyond this, the values that Kathy embodies have been caught more than taught. She has personally demonstrated high standards of excellence and a keen appreciation for beauty. She leads with authenticity and promotes teamwork. She champions peace and justice. She holds my children accountable but also dispenses grace. She personifies all of the reasons why the study of music in our family is core curriculum not just for school but in preparation for a life of service to our village. She has helped to make our community not just a better place for my children, but the best place possible for all of us to live in harmony.” -Studio Parent
"Kathy is an amazing educator, private teacher, and artist. Her passion and dedication to her craft is apparent to anyone who knows her. She sets a high bar not only for herself, but for her students, inspiring them to do their very best. As a result, the Iolani Orchestra Program has enjoyed many years of success due to her leadership and tireless dedication. She cares tremendously about her students, taking a personal interest in helping them succeed. She has also devoted a tremendous amount of energy and time to organizing performances, competitions, master classes, and music camps, providing opportunities for all young string musicians in our state to participate. We can think of no one more deserving of this award." -Studio Parent
"An extraordinary violinist herself, Mrs. Hafner inspires, encourages, maintains a high bar of excellence for her students to aspire to, is firm yet compassionate, is generous and accommodating with her time and passionate about music. My daughter would not be the concertmaster of Punahou Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Honolulu Youth Symphony without Mrs. Hafner's foundational and skill-set building guidance." -Studio Parent