Grant K. Okamura is presently the Director of Bands at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mr. Okamura's Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the University of Hawaii has brought much praise from the band community. Their performance at the 1996 College Band Directors National Association Western/Northwestern Division Convention and the 1994 American Bandmasters Association elicited many letters regarding their outstanding performances. In 1993, his Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the World Association of School Band Ensembles in Valencia and the Coups de Vents band festival in France. An invitation to perform at the Music Educators National Conference's Western Division Convention was received after their performance at the North American Wind Instrument Festival.
Mr. Okamura has served as Assistant Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He has also formed and conducted the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, an ensemble comprised of musicians of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and students at the University of Hawaii. He served as the Musical Director of the Hawaii Youth Symphony between 1979 and 1985and directed the Olivet Baptist Church Adult and Youth Choirs between 1972 and 1979 and recently stepped in to direct the adult choir.
He has served as guest conductor at the Oregon State University, the Illinois State University the University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra, the University of Neveda at Las Vegas and most recently the Florida State Wind Ensemble. He has also given clinics to several university bands throughout California. He has served as adjudicator/clinician/conductor in Saskatchewan and Alberta Canada, Alasaka, Washington, Arizona, and New Mexico. He has served as adjudicator and clinician Unifest in Canada, the International Music Festivals, Pacific Basin Band Festivals, World of Music and various other festivals. He has conducted many select, honor and band camps throughout the state and abroad. He also heads the brass faculty at the University and is an important member of the Music Education Faculty.
Mr. Okamura has also transcribed for band two very demanding orchestral literature. He has successfully transcribed the Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky, and Daphnis and Chloe by Maurice Ravel and has transcribed and arranged other works for the concert band.
In 1989, he was invited into the membership of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In 1994, he hosted a joint convention of the American Bandmasters Association and Japan Band Directors Association in Hawaii. He is an active member of the Oahu Band Directors Association (President 1996-97), Hawaii Music Educators Association (President 1988-90), College Band Directors National Association, Hawaii Band Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference.
He is a much sought after clinician on the concert band sound, rehearsal techniques, conducting, brass playing and acoustics.