I am now at the gate at Kona Airport, having just finished the performance of Handel Messiah with the Kona Choral Society. I had forgotten how many notes fly by in the course of even doing the Christmas portion, plus the “Worthy is the Lamb” and “Amen” choruses. I mean, by even blinking you risk missing something, and turning the pages, several measures can be lost! It’s a Big Sing for the chorus —the tempos are fast and the notes keep coming!

The concert started with a Hawaii Island premiere of “For a breath of ecstasy” by Michael John Trotta, and my only part was to double the choral part in the second movement. The work is a choral setting of the poetry of American poet Sara Teasdale, and is composed in a modal style.

Today we were in a new venue—in years past we performed at the Sheraton Resort in the ballroom (with air conditioning!). This year we were in the Ohana Court at the University of the Nations, essentially an outdoor but covered space.

It meant that we were at the mercy of the heat and humidity, and other perils of an outdoor space—like having the wind blow the pages of your music (!) and competing with the chirping of birds in nearby trees.

Luckily I had a 91-year-old page “handler,” who jumped up to hold my music in place: Bob Morrison, husband to one of the singers.

I was again the recipient of the generous hospitality of Susan Mangubat, whose complex of four homes is directly across the beach, was an idyllic place for a homestay.

Messiah is over for the year, thank goodness, and I have rehearsals in Honolulu for next weekend’s concerts with Tim Carney and the Hawaii Masterworks Chorus at the Mystical Rose Oratory.

On Wednesday and Thursday I’ll be performing with Shane Morris Wise and the Kauai Chorale at Lihue United Church.

My December is full — full of music!