Prizewinning organist, James Kealey, is in Hawaii to present a couple of concerts for the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists and was interviewed by Gene Schiller this morning at Hawaii Public Radio. James said that when he was growing up, he wanted to be an airline pilot, and even started studying geography in preparation for an airline pilot career. Some people think that the complexity of an organ console can rival that of an airplane cockpit!

Listen to the radio interview here.

James was the 2022 First Prize and Audience Prize winner of the National Young Artist Competition in Organ Playing (NYACOP), which took place in Seattle. He recently played at St. Mark’s Cathedral Seattle and people are still talking about his stunning playing. He serves as full-time Interim Director of Music and Organist at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York and holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Eastman, in the studio of David Higgs. James was named one of Diapason magazine’s “20 under 30” in 2021.

I’m enjoying James as a houseguest, in spite of my having to play four services this weekend! Luckily the Executive Board of the Hawaii Chapter AGO is helping me with meals and hospitality for James. He was born and grew up in England but has chosen to make his career in America.

James will be playing a concert on Sunday, March 3rd at 2:00 at Central Union Church in Honolulu, and on Friday, March 8th at 6:00 at All Saints Episcopal in Kapa’a, Kaua’i. Suggested donation is $25, although donations of any amount will be gratefully received.

Here’s a little promo our friend Scott Fikse put together about James’ concerts:

Hope to see you at the concert!