Watch Jake Shimabukuro and Composer Byron Yasui Prep for Concerto World Premiere

We’re counting the days, hours, and minutes until the world premiere of Byron Yasui‘s Concerto for ‘Ukulele and Orchestra, Campanella, to be performed by Jake Shimabukuro and the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra on June 6 and June 7. Watch in the above promo video as Shimabukuro and Yasui talk about the challenges of presenting a three movement ukulele concerto, which isn’t the first of its kind, but is definitely the most ambitious.

The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra commissioned Campanella to close its 2014-2015 Halekulani Masterworks season. Yasui, professor emeritus at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, wrote the concerto specifically with his Shimabukuro in mind, giving it the nickname “Concerto for Jake.” Shimabukuro will also perform Campanella this fall with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and the Buffalo Philharmonic. Fingers-crossed more tour dates will be announced—we’ll keep you posted!

Campanella premieres as part of the “Season Finale with JoAnn & Jake” concert on Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m. at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu. Tickets are available at HawaiiSymphonyOrchestra.org.