No question, the performances at organists’ conventions are the best of the best, AND these performers are at the top of their game. We heard two of best this afternoon, Ken Cowan from Rice University and Peter Sykes from Juilliard and Boston University.

Ken Cowan played a gorgeous E. M. Skinner organ (1925/1928) at Trinity +St. Peter’s Episcopal and the sound was lusciously round and elegant. His playing was masterful with a clean technique — I remember when he came to Hawaii to play at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and was rewarded with five standing ovations in the concert! People couldn’t help themselves.

I loved all the early music Peter Sykes played on the Taylor and Boody organ at St. Mark’s Lutheran. He made the music come alive, gutsy and energizing. I have a hard time trying to play this early music without it making it sound boring, but under Sykes, the music sounded great on that organ, which is tuned in unequal temperament.

I am both excited and inspired by these great artists and at the same time a little discouraged knowing of my own capabilities and limitations. I know that no matter how much I practice I’ll never be in the same league. Yet … I carry on.

So for me one of the most positive vibes to come out of going to AGO conventions are all the connections to people I’m meeting. Take, for example, when I met Karen Billings from Las Cruces, NM. She called out to me at Grace Cathedral last night and introduced herself—you probably don’t know she is a VIP — she is the organist who will substitute for Jieun Kim Newland at Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces when Jieun comes to Hawaii to substitute for me in mid-July! The circle of life!

I also found Jo Ann Condry, whom I met on a historic organ study tour in Italy and we have subsequently gone on three European trips together. I swear that Jo Ann has memorized every word of my blogs, because she remembers things I have long forgotten writing about.

And I finally caught up with Barry Wenger and Steve Hoover from the Lutheran Church of Honolulu! You, know, with over a thousand people at this convention, it’s hard to find everyone you know, since we are divided into smaller groups with rotating schedules.

This morning I attended part 2 of the improvisation workshop, a discussion about fundraising basics, and a reading session by Oxford University Press at which several composers were present to play their own works including David Schelat, Christa Rakich, James Biery, and Rebecca Groom te Velde. Finally it was nice to put a face to the composers whose names have become so familiar. At tonight’s concert, I sat right behind Rebecca Groom te Velde and had a nice conversation.

And talk about connections! Clay Logue tonight suggested that instead of riding the convention bus to St. Ignatius, that we try Waymo, which is an app which connects you with a driverless Jaguar! When we first got into the car, Clay touched the windshield wipers to clean the window and was promptly admonished by customer support not to touch any of the controls lest we forfeit our ride.

I told him it was more exciting than a ride at Disneyland! The car signaled when it was turning, took the foot off the brake when the signal light turned red, and was just like an invisible person driving the car. It was a 22 minute ride to travel 4 miles . . . no tip needed!

Watch a video of me exiting then the car drives away.