Tonight was billed as “A Grand Celebration” commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Organ Historical Society and the 10th anniversary of the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. It took place at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which is the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. We learned that Fred Haas, whose family foundation has… Read More Dobson at the Kimmel
This morning we visited five historic churches in Philadelphia, some dating as early as 1761. The first three took place in Roman Catholic parishes, although in the first church, services are only held a few times a year. Organist Matthew Glandorf did an outstanding job on the 1892 Hook & Hastings organ at Holy Trinity… Read More Beautiful historic churches in Philadelphia
Today was the first official day of the Organ Historical Society convention, its 61st convention in this its 60th year since the founding in 1956. Its purpose is thus: The Organ Historical Society celebrates, preserves, and studies the pipe organ in America in all its historic styles, through research, education, advocacy, and music. And because… Read More The 61st for the 60th
It’s the day before the start of the Organ Historical Society in Philadelphia and I decided to play tourist before the onslaught of organ recitals. It only took me 11,022 steps to do a one-day tour! High up on my list to things to see was the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Sam Lam (an… Read More 11,022 steps in Philadelphia
Today, more than four months before my concert date of October 30, 2016, I played through my program before an audience of two: Scott Fikse, who will conduct a small chamber choir to sing the four-part chorales, and Todd Beckham, organist. Amazingly enough, I heard myself say many of the things my students tell me: But… Read More Sneak preview
Today was the day I had set aside to start packing for my upcoming 40-day trip. Of course, I had to do the laundry first—otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to pack anything! On previous European trips, it has been very difficult and even adventurous to find any sort of coin laundry. So I have… Read More I thought I was packed …
Last weekend’s concert at the Mystic Rose Oratory marked the 13th annual Hawaii Masterworks Festival, and completed the 24th season of the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble. You may not know that the HVAE was actually co-founded by three people: David Kayner, Carl Crosier and Tim Carney and the group made its debut with a Big Island… Read More Charter members of HVAE reunite
It worked! Ironing my music for the Fauré Requiem did the trick! (See my previous post “Desperate measures needed” for enlightenment on this comment.) Everything yesterday afternoon at the second performance of the Hawaii Masterworks Festival went extremely well — my music stayed flat, the choir, orchestra and soloists sounded fantastic and I asked Eric… Read More Redeemed!
Last night could only be described in one word: nightmare. You see, I was accompanying the Hawaii Masterworks Festival chorus in their first performance of the Fauré Requiem and my music would not stay open! That meant that every few seconds, I would need to take whatever hand was free at the moment to swat the… Read More Desperate measures needed!
This is the last weekend before I board the plane for 40 days away from Honolulu, and what a weekend it will be! Nine organ lessons, one piano lesson, two church services, one orchestra rehearsal and two concerts all crammed into the next four days. And today in addition to teaching three other organ lessons, I played a… Read More In the space of one weekend …