This morning Katelyn Emerson and I woke up early to get ready for a class she was going to be teaching at nearby St. Andrew’s Schools—a demonstration of the Aeolian-Skinner organ at St. Andrew’s Cathedral for the girls in the Lower School Choir.

You’ll know from my previous posts that the organ is in bad need of a restoration. Go back and read my post, “A pipe organ in peril” (THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, YIKES!) Although funds have been raised, contractors need to be chosen and the work remains uncompleted. Still, when Katelyn turned on the organ and pressed one piston, a loud noise was heard with many pipes sounding continuously and complaining! She tried to isolate the errant sounds to no avail, until finally she just turned it off, waited a bit, and the organ started up again without incident. Yet many of the stops she had used successfully in her practice yesterday afternoon failed to sound this morning.

Katelyn was so gracious about the whole situation, and said that organs, like people, get old and have to go to the doctor to have things checked out. What a sweetheart she was! I was so amused when Katelyn called the organ “an old lady” — I always thought of the organ as a “he”— as in the King of Instruments!

The staff at the Cathedral was very leery of anyone trying to play the Aeolian-Skinner organ, but I assured them that Katelyn would find a way to bring out its best. They wanted her to use the digital Hauptwerk which was sitting on the other side of the chancel. No way!

Here are some photos that I took this morning of Katelyn and the class.

I was very pleased to note that the enthusiasm of the girls was palpable, and there was a constant barrage of many questions: Do you wear special shoes to play the organ? Where does the sound come from? At the end of the class, Katelyn invited several girls to come up and try out the organ. They were so excited!

We received this nice note from teacher Jean Schmitz who was substituting today for choir teacher Bowe Souza who had responsibilities at Kamehameha Schools:

Hi—The students and I wish to thank all who made this  special “field trip” available. It was outstanding. As we returned back on campus, Katelyn Emerson‘s demonstration was the topic of conversation!  As I do not have her email address, please extend our “Thank You”. I am sure they have a better understanding and appreciation of the broad flexibility the organ can offer to the audience. Thanks again for sharing this  special/unique experience with the girls.—Jean Schmitz

NOTE: Jean Schmitz “retired” 30 years ago when I was on the Priory staff. I was told she is now 93 years old and still in the classroom! It was so great to see her!

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Yesterday, I took Katelyn to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu for her to try out the Beckerath. What a treat that was! I was reminded of that time long ago when my husband Carl and I were treated to a private recital by Marie-Claire Alain. Katelyn absolutely made the Beckerath come alive with her very colorful registrations, exquisite and clean playing. What a joy and absolute pleasure it was to hear this fantastic performer!

On Sunday, March 13th at 2:00 pm, Katelyn will give a public concert at Central Union Church, 1660 South Beretania Street. Her program can be viewed here: www.agohawaii.org

I know we are all in for a wonderful afternoon of music!