When last week the Lutheran Church of Honolulu brought a candidate to Hawaii to audition for the job of Music Director and Organist, I thought back to the three church jobs I’ve had since moving here: Church of the Holy Nativity, 1973-1976Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1978-2012Nuuanu Congregational Church, 2020-present Would you believe that I never… Read More The organist’s audition
The following is the text of Scott Fikse’s farewell address to the congregation. I was secretly thrilled that he included my name! I give thanks to God for leading me and Marcus on a path that brought us to all of you. I’ve told this story to many of you, but when Marcus graduated from… Read More Scott’s farewell
Normally when you hear the term “blockbuster” it’s in connection with a movie, or a show, usually done in the summertime. For example, a Google search for “blockbuster” turns up this: Who’d ever think you would call a church service a “blockbuster?” But “blockbuster” is exactly how I’d describe Scott Fikse’s last service today as… Read More Blockbuster!
Tonight was the dress rehearsal for choir, orchestra and soloists for Scott Fikse’s last service at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and if I had to sum it up, I would say it was full of glorious exuberance! Dress rehearsals at church, though, are a little different from those you might experience for an opera… Read More Glorious exuberance!
Don’t mind me—after studying Spanish intensively over the past three years, I’m afraid that I’m thinking in Spanish! “¡Qué raro!” means “how strange” or in my way of thinking, “how weird!” What I’m talking about was today’s service, dubbed Christmas in July. Apparently it’s a common occurrence in many United Church of Christ churches —… Read More ¡Qué raro!
“A previous commitment …” That’s what our former business partner, Peter Hallock used to call Thursday night choir rehearsals. “if you are invited to a dinner, or a party on a Thursday night, tell them you have a previous commitment.” For years, in fact, for decades, my Thursday nights were committed to rehearsing with the… Read More A previous commitment
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