A pioneer for cultural music and dance studies in Hawaii dies at age 101 HNN Staff
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A champion of music and dance in Hawaii has died.
UH Mānoa Professor Emerita Barbara Barnard Smith died Saturday evening at the age of 101.
She’s credited with establishing the school’s ethnomusicology program, touching the lives of many students over the years.
Smith began her career at UH in 1949 teaching piano and music theory. She held her master’s degree in music literature from the Eastman School of Music.
Advancing through her studies, she realized course material was limited to Euro-American culture, and decided it needed to be expanded. With the university, she introduced classes in hula and Hawaiian chant, Korean dance, Chinese butterfly harp and Japanese gagaku.
Barbara Bernard Smith celebrates her 100th birthday via video conference. (Photo: Linda Adamson)
Long respected as a champion for the study of music and dance from Hawaiʻi, Asia and the Pacific, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Professor Emerita
Barbara Barnard Smith, who founded the university’s ethnomusicology program died on the evening of July 3. Colleagues and former students gathered to virtually celebrate the veteran professor’s 101st birthday on June 10.
Loved ones released this statement:
“She was a beloved colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend. Although we are saddened by her passing, we honor and celebrate a life well lived. One of her requests (instructions!) was ‘…and be sure to emphasize my long and amazingly wonderful life.’”