A few days ago, a longtime friend who is a faithful reader of this blog sent me this message: “… I haven’t read a blog from you for quite awhile. Everything ok? 🤗💕” I pointed out that I had written a post just five days prior, but apparently she hadn’t received the notice. People who… Read More Controlled (?) mayhem
A few days ago, I received an email from my friend and former organist duet partner, Jieun Kim Newland. Hi Kathy, A good friend of mine, Russell Weismann is visiting Honolulu. He and I studied together at ISM (Institute of Sacred Music). He is a fabulous organist and is teaching at Georgetown University. Russ is also… Read More Distinguished visitor
The fact that we essentially lost three years off our lifetimes due to the pandemic really hit home today. I had a lesson with a long-time student of mine whose last lesson was March 23, 2020. Because of his advanced age, and the risks of the coronavirus, we had postponed any lessons past this date… Read More Diligence
Tributes are pouring in for our dear friend, Dr. Frederick Swann, who passed away last night. Here’s what was posted on the American Guild of Organists Facebook page: From the Diocese of Orange, California and Christ Cathedral: GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2022) — It is with great sadness that the Diocese of Orange and Christ… Read More RIP Fred Swann
What’s a group of dinosaurs called? This is what I found after a Google search: It is generally considered safe to refer to a group of hunting predators, such as Velociraptors, as a pack and a large group of herbivores, such as sauropods, as a herd. Yet, on Quora, I found this: Depends on the type… Read More A pack or a herd?
This has been another “Race to the finish” week for me, with many tasks to accomplish before getting on the plane on Sunday to Seattle for a family reunion with my husband’s family. Wouldn’t you know, this is not only the week of The Polish Renaissance concert, but it also was the week that my… Read More One last push
Those are the two words that came to mind as I was listening to Katelyn Emerson play her concert at Central Union Church this afternoon. Hers was an extremely elegant and sophisticated performance today, and the number of colors she got from the instrument was incredible, made possible by a huge quantity of piston changes… Read More Glorious elegance
In the last couple of days, I have learned of the death of two organists, one well-known and the other, perhaps not so well known, but both loved by colleagues and others in their communities. I will write about the second person in a separate post. Joyce Jones had a most distinguished career, and you… Read More Well done, good and faithful servant
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced that the state is ending the travel quarantine and the Safe Travels Hawaiʻi program after the current emergency period ends on Mar. 25. Beginning at 12:01 am, Mar. 26, passengers arriving from domestic points of origin will not have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-travel… Read More Mask on, mask off
This morning organist Katelyn Emerson posted her performance of Jeanne Demessieux’s “Te Deum” on Facebook, and what I immediately zoned into were the shoes that Katelyn was wearing: stilettos! Katelyn writes: A little video on the 101st birthday of Jeanne Demessieux: her complete Te deum, a portion of which I had a privilege to record… Read More Organists in stilettos