Because of the upcoming Dueling Bach concert, I planned not to take any other “gigs,” so that I could concentrate on practicing. Knowing how busy my December was, with all the music I had to learn for the six concerts I ended up playing (on three different islands), along with all the usual Christmas decorating, partying, and gift-buying, plus a quick trip to the mainland, I’m afraid my music for the January 18th concert got put on the back burner. 

I figured I would spend the two-and-a-half weeks in the beginning of January reviving the concert repertoire, and I would be in great shape.

Was I wrong!

First of all, since September I have been playing the organ for Waiokeola Congregational Church for two Sundays of the month. So I figured that the last two Sundays in January would be after the concert, so no problem there. The congregation has piano accompaniment on the other two Sundays, in case you’re wondering.

Then, Dan Werning, organist of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Kailua resigned to move to Thailand. Since there was nobody else available, I agreed to play for the January 5th and January 12th Sundays, in addition to the first two Sundays in February. Although I have played it on a number of occasions, the Walker tracker organ is still relatively unknown to me—and it means that I have to take a day to drive over to the church (located in Kailua, on the other side of the island). The organ has strictly mechanical key and stop action, meaning all stops have to be pulled by hand. No pistons to make registration changes easy!

Then Scott Fikse, music director of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, asked if I could sub for the 10:30 am January 19 and January 26 services since Mark Wong would be away. Well … the Waiokeola service starts at 9:00 am, but should be over by 10:00 or so. It will be cutting it very close, but I probably can get to LCH in time to sit down and play the prelude. Can you believe that it has been seven years since I retired from the position of Organist, and this is the first time since December 25, 2012, that I will be playing for a service here! I have to say that I am terribly flattered, BUT it will take a bunch of extra practice to prepare for the services. After all, I don’t want people to think that I haven’t lost it … yet!

Ian Capps of Early Music Hawaii, reminded me that I have to format the email blast and program for their concert on January 25th, so that’s another couple of hours committed. I already decided I would not play in this concert, but bless her heart, Jieun Kim Newland agreed to play, even though she is preparing for the same duet concert on January 18th and had a similar slew of commitments during December.

All of which means … There simply are not enough organists on this island for all the organ playing that’s required. I keep wishing and hoping that several organists would move to Hawaii to help share the load! If you are an organist, maybe you might consider the Aloha State as your next abode! (Unfortunately, Jieun will be leaving Hawaii with her husband this summer as they await their next assignment. 😢)

On Thursday of this week, I had dinner with my 90 year old uncle and aunt, Dick and Donna Wen from Minnesota, who brought along their children, grandchildren and friends to enjoy Hawaii. They wanted to hear all about my “retired” life in Hawaii as an organist—and were so amazed to hear about my crazy December, playing for six concerts with four different community choirs, my four concerts on three different islands week, biweekly trips to Kauai for teaching, etc. I think they were more amazed that an organist could be so busy in Hawaii.

We had a wonderful time visiting and catching up with family doings, in addition to enjoying the ambient atmosphere at the Halekulani Hotel’s “House Without a Key” restaurant. I’m afraid that I’ve known of this restaurant for years, but this was the first time I ate there!

Then last night, I hosted a pre-concert dinner for Charles and Maria Coldwell (remember, he was the recorder player in our December 2nd Organ Plus concert, and she and I are on the Peter Hallock Institute Board of Directors); mezzo Jennifer Lane and her husband, Jim Carr, and my duet partner, Jieun Kim Newland and her husband Ben. Some of the pictures are below (I’m sorry that we didn’t take a group selfie!)

Jieun and I had our first rehearsal in a month yesterday afternoon, then I went home to cook. I’m afraid that when all my guests arrived, I was still scrambling to get the food ready, and thankfully, Jieun stepped in to help me. Jennifer swore that she could hear my late husband, Carl, chiding me: “Now, Kathy!” and I was reminded that in the old days, Carl would always have a post-concert reception! In the midst of preparing the music and the programs, we would always have food to prepare as well!

So I told my guests that they would have to consider this a pre-concert get-together, because to do all the food preparation “post-concert” would be absolutely impossible! Come to think of it, I will have two sets of houseguests beginning January 15th and January 20th. Yowsers!

As it is, I only started writing this blog post at 3:43 am (!) so you can see how absolutely insane my life is!