If you’re like me, you are completely dependent on your electronic gadgets — computers, smartphones, tablets, etc. So you can imagine what angst I felt when I realized that I had left my iPad in a restaurant. And it wasn’t a fine dining restaurant either — it was a Subway restaurant in the heart of… Read More There are still good people
Chances are, you probably haven’t heard of organist Carlos Curley, who died this past week. Tributes are pouring in from all over, and one included a video link in which Carlo explained how he became an organist. I think you’ll enjoy it. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1R9hKb5awA?rel=0] Just a reminder, that there are scholarships available from the local… Read More Becoming an organist
If you are a reader of the Star-Advertiser newspaper, you may have seen my photo of Jordan McCreary in last Saturday’s edition. Yes, it’s time for the 23rd Annual Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert at Central Union Church, next Sunday, August 19th at 4 pm. The concert is a benefit for the scholarship programs of the… Read More Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert
On Wednesday night, I and a few other folks from LCH attended the Spring Concert of St. Andrew’s Priory choirs conducted by our own Naomi Castro, with Carl Crosier, accompanist. Randy Castello (one of the LCH tenors) turned to me and said, “Did you see the obituary for Pat Chamberlain this week?” In the picture above,… Read More Aloha, Patricia Chamberlain (1926-2012)
This Sunday the LCH Choir will be singing two pieces by American composer, Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006), Wash yourself in the Jordan, and Alleluia upon the waters. Pinkham was called “among the most-performed American composers and people like his music.” He wrote symphonies, art songs, chant-based music, serial music, electronic music and more. He was organist… Read More Memories of Daniel Pinkham
Today is the Solemn Requiem for Gerre Hancock, formerly organist and choirmaster of St. Thomas Church in New York City for over thirty years. One tribute said, “He was one of the greatest church musicians of our time and inspired generations of musicians who worked with and admired him.” He was such a giant in the field… Read More A giant in church music
Yesterday when I opened the Star Advertiser newspaper, I cannot tell you thrilled I was to see Rodney Gehrke‘s picture prominently displayed in the entertainment section. Rodney arrived yesterday from San Francisco and will be playing a recital on the mighty Beckerath organ at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, Sunday, January 15th at 4 pm.… Read More Two organ recitals in January
No — it’s not the end of my career — didn’t want to scare you just yet! Today on FaceBook, a lot of my organist friends shared a link to Frederick Swann’s encore of his farewell concert at the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles, which I have embedded here: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToAwhhEOgTc] Fred Swann (b.… Read More The end of a career
Next Sunday, August 14th at 4 pm, I’ll be participating in the 22nd Annual Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert at Central Union Church. I would have to guess that there have only been a couple of concerts which I’ve missed over the past 22 years, because I’ve been out of town. This concert is sponsored yearly… Read More 22nd Annual Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert
This past weekend two significant events took place at LCH, and unfortunately, because of my mother’s funeral, I was unable to attend. The first event was PipeWorks, the educational outreach program of the Hawaii Chapter, American Guild of Organists, which was led ably by former organ student, Joey Fala. Over 40 people attended this program which… Read More Passing the torch