Today the Hawaii Tribune-Herald newspaper on the Big Island published a story by Katie Young Yamanaka about our homeboy, Joey Fala, and his upcoming recital at the Higashi Hongwanji Mission, Sunday, March 12th at 3:00 pm.

I was surprised that Joey came up with the same analogy as I have previously written about, particularly in regards to playing a service or concert in someone else’s church: it’s like cooking in someone else’s kitchen and not knowing what ingredients you’ll have to prepare a meal. You see, every organ is custom built to the room it resides in, and although there are similarities of one organ to another, each is unique for what stops it contains and how it sounds in the room.

Here’s the story:

I can’t tell you what a thrill it has been for me to see a young boy grow into a man, a child who was so curious about the pipe organ and who has now become its master. As Samuel Lam, our American Guild of Organists (AGO) treasurer wrote recently, “Our recitalist will be Joey Fala who grew up before our eyes here in Honolulu.”

Joey, I hope you forgive me when I post this photo of your first Hawaii Chapter AGO meeting, which was a silent film performance of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, improvised by John McCreary on his home theatre pipe organ.  How far you have come! and wouldn’t John be so proud of you, as we all are.

Joey’s recital in Honolulu will be Sunday, March 19th at 7:00 pm at Central Union Church. The concert is free, but donations will be welcomed.