Somehow I just knew last weekend’s concert was going to be a great success, because when Dana Marsh walked into my apartment for the first time last Monday, and we opened the blinds, this is the view that greeted us:

The Early Music Hawaii concert, Musica Poetica, is now in the record books as “one of the biggest audience we have attracted to LCH (170+) but also the most enthusiastic,” according to EMH’s President, Ian Capps, in a letter he sent to the singers. “That was just a stunning performance, and the best of many excellent concerts you have sung for EMH.” He continued: “They all praised you to the skies, and so do we! What’s more, you put it all together in a single week. Dana (Marsh) was truly impressed and grateful. Thanks to all of you for your fine voices, individually and collectively, your dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism. I only wish we could share your talents more often with our faithful and ever-growing crowd of supporters.”

Alto Diane Koshi added, “Thank you, Ian, and the folks at Early Music Hawaii for perpetuating the vision of Carl Crosier!! These concerts are a special joy for me—especially to sing with former students—at such a high artistic level! Thanks for keeping the music alive!” Bass Keane Ishii wrote: “Thank you, Ian, for making this all possible! Our community of musical artist and enthusiasts is far richer, because of your leadership.”

After Dana spent an entire week cooped up in my apartment except for going out to rehearsals (although I have a fabulous view!), the concert was now over and it was time to decompress. Immediately after the concert we joined a bunch of the singers and their significant others at an impromptu party at Scott Fikse‘s house (music director of LCH), then the next morning had a lovely brunch beachside with sackbut player, Linda Pearse, who had come all the way from New Brunswick on this her first visit to Hawaii. By the way, it was also a first trip here for two of the other sackbut players, Christopher Canapa and Caleb Ketcham.

We next drove to the Pali Lookout to see the spectacular view there, and ended up at Kailua Beach where Dana and Linda happily enjoyed the warm water and went swimming. I told them the last time I went to the beach was probably the last time Dana came to Hawaii — in 2002! and I don’t even own a swimming suit!

We drove around Waimanalo way back to Hawaii Kai where Linda was staying with her homestay hostess, Ulrike Scherer, as her plane back to Canada was leaving in a few hours.

But Dana still had a few hours left before leaving on the redeye back to Indiana, so here are pictures of his final meal in Hawaii:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was happy to play tour guide today because I do feel it’s important that we show as much aloha as possible to our visiting artists, especially if it’s their first trip to the islands. I am hopeful that our visitors from Indiana University had a great time!

Thank you for sharing your music with us.