Talk about choral music in Hawaii, and I bet the first name that comes to mind is Wanda Gereben, who was honored at last night’s gala 50th anniversary celebration of the Honolulu Chorale. I wrote about Wanda a couple of years ago (“50 Years of Choral Music in Hawaii.”) as the person who organized “The Big… Read More It’s a Wanda-ful World
Okay, I am an admitted political junkie, and can’t get enough of watching the debates, talk shows and news about the presidential race. This morning, though, for once I was grateful for the two-hour respite without partisan bickering as the nation paused to remember the life of Antonin Scalia, the longest-serving justice in today’s Supreme Court at… Read More The peace may be exchanged
It was about 6:30 last night that I got a text message from John Renke, organist-choirmaster of St. Andrew’s Cathedral: I’m still sick. Maybe even worse. I want to plan ahead and see what your availability might be. There’s a huge service at 3 o’clock tomorrow afternoon requiring some organ music and two choir (anthems). Are you available… Read More SOS Organist needed!
This coming Sunday, Georgine Stark will be giving a recital of spirituals in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month. She will be joined by her husband, violinist Darel Stark and pianist Sachi P. Hirakouji. The program will showcase African-American spirituals arranged by the internationally-renowned pianist, conductor and arranger, Moses Hogan. In… Read More How sweet the sound
This weekend are the Hawaii Opera Theatre’s performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten. And to no one’s surprise, three of four Stark family members will be performing — Darel in the orchestra pit playing violin, and the two kids on stage in the chorus. Georgine will be theatre mom in the audience this time,… Read More Music in their DNA
On my last day in New Haven, Joey Fala let me into the Woolsey Hall organ practice rooms and I was able to practice before leaving for Honolulu. I did make some progress although my left hand still is not back to normal and I’m thinking I’ll have to consult my doctor about it when I… Read More The richness of the Yale experience
With the threat of a snowstorm, my flight back to Honolulu was cancelled this morning, and the earliest I could leave would be Wednesday morning. So it was with some gladness that I received a text message from Joey Fala: Some snowstorm . . . if you want to practice, meet me at Woolsey at… Read More My office today
Today Joey Fala took me on a tour of the 16 pipe organs on the Yale University campus, which we organists call an organ crawl. According to Wikipedia, “An organ crawl is a tour of several pipe organs at different locations in an area, usually taken by a group of enthusiasts. It may include short concerts or opportunities to… Read More The teacher becomes the student
What a great honor it has been for me to come all the way from Hawaii and to hear how far my former student, Joey Fala, has come! When I told the bus driver why I was here in New Haven, he was absolutely amazed at my story. I myself am amazed at Joey and… Read More Fire in the belly
While Joey Fala spent the day practicing for this afternoon’s concert, I went exploring the Yale University campus and environs. Of course, I am completely awed by the wintry scenes in sharp contrast to our eternal summer weather in Honolulu. I next found the Yale University Art Gallery and was most impressed by their collection.… Read More Treasures at Yale