It was a text conversation last week with concert organist Nathan Laube that has caused a diversion in my daily activities. You see, in booking our air reservations for our European trip, I mistakenly had us arrive one day earlier in Toulouse than the start of our GoAhead tour to France, Spain and Portugal. In… Read More Changing the channel
The hard fact about living in Hawaii is having to always say goodbye or aloha to people whom we have grown to treat like family. This summer I’ll have to say goodbye to several musicians—ALL of whom have studied organ with me. I’ve already said goodbye to my former student, Marie Wang, who was the… Read More Always saying ‘Goodbye’
When I haven’t seen people for awhile, generally they ask me two questions: “What are you working on?” “Where are you going on your next trip? Well, I’m glad you asked! I am pleased to tell you that Scott Fikse asked me to play the organ on his last Sunday at the Lutheran Church of… Read More Fingers crossed!
Yesterday afternoon I attended “A Concert for Ukraine,” a benefit presented by Hawai‘i Vocal Arts Ensemble, conducted by Timothy Carney with special guest, baritone Leon Williams at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. It was the second benefit concert by the group—the first was held at St. John Lutheran Church the night before. The chorus was… Read More Dona nobis pacem
The Crosier Bed and Breakfast aka The Marble Palace is now back again in operation as I have been hosting Paul Leenhouts and his wife, Monika Ruusmaa Leenhouts. They had originally only planned a vacation on Kauai but it was mezzo Jennifer Lane who persuaded them to spend a few days teaching on Oahu at… Read More Early Music houseguests
Today, Lynette Fisk posted the obituary for her husband of 48 years, Dale Fisk. I believe it was in 1976-1977 that Dale and Lynette spent a sabbatical year in Hawaii, where he joined the Compline Choir at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and was active in our local chapter of the American Guild of Organists.… Read More Aloha, Dale Fisk
Yesterday on my monthly visit to the island of Kaua’i to teach organ students I met Noah Smith, the summer organ intern at All Saints Episcopal Church. Noah is here from May 29th to August 7th, primarily to play the Sunday 9:30 am services while the church’s Director of Music, Henry Adams Curtis, is on… Read More In his genes
48 hours … that’s about how long I have to do my laundry and repack my suitcase before I head to California for my grandson’s birthday. I walked in the door of my apartment last night about 9 pm, having gotten up at 5 am London time at the Renaissance Hotel, staying up all night… Read More 48 hours!
Before leaving Fátima this morning, a few of us took a quick tour of the overabundance of souvenir shops in the village, and I was able to take a picture of the wax body parts people bring to the shrine to pray for someone with a particular medical problem e.g. breast cancer, brain tumor, etc.… Read More Last day in Portugal
Our hotel, the Hotel Fátima could not be any closer to the site where the Miracle of Fátima occurred. In fact, I could hear the priest chanting and the organ playing from my hotel room. We arrived in late afternoon and Pedro, our guide, quickly gave us an overview of the site, when I took… Read More The Fátima experience