I have been so glued to my computer the last few days that today I feel like I’m coming up for air, finally a chance to breathe. Last night, I really knew I was overwhelmed with work when I realized it was 9:00 pm and I realize that I haven’t yet read the morning newspaper,… Read More Coming up for air
For much of my adult life, if it was summer, I would be taking the opportunities to gather with my colleagues at an organists convention (American Guild of Organists = AGO) or church musicians conference (Association of Lutheran Church Musicians = ALCM). I’ve also attended conventions of the Royal College of Canadian Organists (RCCO) and… Read More Beauty endures
[This post has been updated with additional information.] I just received this sad news: Preston Larson, former American Guild of Organists Hawaii Chapter member, passed away on December 15, 2020 in Phoenix AZ. He was born March 18, 1942 and was Emeritus Professor of Music at Brigham Young University Hawaii, where he taught organ performance… Read More RIP Preston Larson 1942-2020
If you have been reading this blog for some years now, you may know that the Hawaii Chapter of the American Guild of Organists sponsors a yearly organ recital by rising stars in the organ world. Earlier in the year (pre-COVID), we brought Monica Czausz to Hawaii and as to the history of this program,… Read More Death of a rising star
Summer has traditionally been a time of respite for church musicians from the busyness of services, rehearsals and concerts—and for many years my husband and I traveled to conventions and conferences of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. At these conventions, we would hear world-class performances by organists and… Read More Beauty in the midst of chaos
We all know that death and taxes are inevitable, but when we hear of the sudden deaths of celebrities or of people we know, it seems all the more shocking. This morning when I checked my Facebook notifications, I was taken aback by the news of organist Jane Parker-Smith. From her website, her bio reads:… Read More Sudden death
A couple of weeks ago I joined in a Zoom meeting of Deans in the American Guild of Organists. The Dean of the AGO Chapter is like the local president, and I am completing my second year. I think this is at least my third, and maybe even my fourth (!) stint as Dean of… Read More Just called to say ‘Hello’
Today is April 2nd, and before the coronavirus crisis was upon us, I would have been packing my suitcase and getting ready to get on an airplane to Atlanta, and then to St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia. Now, my tour has been rescheduled to 2021, and I’m trying hard not to feel badly about spending… Read More Grounded!
Organist Monica Czausz is in Hawaii this weekend (and is my delightful houseguest!) and when she arrived at the airport, she was greeted not only with a flower lei but also a comprehensive schedule of her time here, accounting for all of her practice time but also who was taking and picking her up from… Read More “That’s what we do”
The decision has been made, and I no longer have to wonder about how to manage not getting coronavirus while on a plane. Today I logged onto the website of my travel agent where I saw this message: Owing to the evolving COVID-19 situation and government travel advisories and restrictions, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Costsaver, Brendan… Read More Out of my hands