In the company of early music greatness
L-R: Wendy Gillespie, Paul Elliott, Elisabeth Wright, Stanley Ritchie, Nigel North, Myron Lutzke, Aaron Sheehan and Dana Marsh
A short night and a whirlwind tour
Yesterday afternoon, Patsy Fala, Joey’s mom, graciously picked me up from my downtown Honolulu apartment and drove me to the airport. My flight to Chicago left about 4:45 pm and arrived at the ungodly hour of 4:21 am Chicago time where the captain announced it was a frigid 16 degrees F.! A couple hours later… Read More A short night and a whirlwind tour
Home for one day
On Saturday morning I gave three organ lessons, which finished at 12:00 noon, then rushed home—my neighbor was already in the garage waiting to take me to the airport for my flight at 1:45 pm. At the last moment, I decided to fly to Los Angeles where my son and daughter-in-law held a “gender reveal”… Read More Home for one day
A formidable task
One of the pieces that I accompanied last Sunday at the Punahou Chapel 50th Anniversary celebration was Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” from Messiah. The piece was done at the dedication service 50 years ago, and the chaplains wanted to include it in the 50th anniversary service too. Now, you have to understand that when I am… Read More A formidable task
Oh, THAT Toccata and Fugue!
Cheeky. That’s how I would describe my performance of Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor yesterday at the 50th anniversary celebration of Thurston Memorial Chapel. Another way I’d describe it is: Gutsy. I say this because I bet it’s been 20 years since I’ve played this piece in public—and I only practiced it for about 4 days,… Read More Oh, THAT Toccata and Fugue!
No programs? No problem!
I guess it’s only in America that going to a concert and getting a program is a given. After all, the purpose of a concert program is to know what is coming next. It’s nice to read program notes about the music you’re hearing and knowing how many songs comprise a set is important to… Read More No programs? No problem!
14,000+ chapel services
Over 14,000 chapel services, plus weddings, funerals and other services—that’s the estimate of the number of events which have taken place at the Robert Shipman Thurston Memorial Chapel on the Punahou School campus since it was built fifty years ago. Before that time, services were held at McNeil Hall, Dillingham Auditorium, or even outdoors. With 8… Read More 14,000+ chapel services
If Martin Luther King were alive …
If Martin Luther King were alive and had come to the concert at Lutheran Church of Honolulu last night, he would loved the scene, suggested soprano Georgine Stark. [First of all, did you know that King’s given birth name was not Martin but Michael? His name was changed at age five after his father, a pastor, traveled to… Read More If Martin Luther King were alive …
Heart wrenching
Heart wrenching . . . if I had to describe yesterday’s funeral for Denise Dusenberry Ortal-Ballaibe, that’s what I’d say. I would also call it tragic—Denise died on December 15, 2016 at the age of 54 from ovarian cancer—too young and too soon. She was a long-time member of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu—from 1987… Read More Heart wrenching
A life of leisure … NOT!
Last Sunday about 4:00 pm after I had just settled into my seat at the Symphony concert and before the music began, my phone vibrated, indicating that I had a new email message. It was from Chandra Peters, the chapel coordinator of Punahou School, who coincidentally sang with the Lutheran Church of Honolulu choir for… Read More A life of leisure … NOT!