Well, I saved the best for last—my visit to St. Nicholas Basilica all came about because of Joe Pettit, former Honolulu resident, organist and choirmaster. When he found out that I was going to Amsterdam, he fixed me up with Michael Hedley, who with his wife, Colleen, moved to Amsterdam in the 80s. Joe called it “hands down the best Catholic liturgy in Amsterdam,” (By the way, Michael said that Joe was the best tenor he had every known! I told him that when we performed Bach St. John Passion, Joe was not only the Evangelist, he was also the rehearsal accompanist and German language coach!)

The only trouble is, I got horribly lost after the canal cruise and essentially walked all over Amsterdam trying to find first my hotel, and then the church, making me more than an hour late for my appointment!

But all the walking, and the getting lost, was more than made up when I walked into the church and saw the 1889 Sauer organ. Although it has a Romantic specification, Michael showed me that the instrument can play Bach… so I played “Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele,” plus “Komm, heiliger Geist,” both of which sounded marvelous on this organ.

I’ve had a fantastic time here in Amsterdam! I must try to stay longer next time!