This morning I’m watching the news about the big snowstorm in the Northeast—I guess I left just in the nick of time! It was the first time I took a nonstop flight directly to Honolulu from Newark—11-1/2 hours, in which I watched five movies! In case you’re wondering, no, I never sleep on flights, even… Read More In the news
Electrifying! That’s how the over 300+ people of the Organ Historical Society reacted when they leaped to their feet at the end of Joey Fala‘s performance at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Springfield, MA with a spontaneous and exuberant standing ovation. The kid from Hawaii blew everyone away, and even though it was the fifth concert of… Read More Joey Wows the OHS!
Tonight was the gala opening concert of the Organ Historical Society convention at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield, MA, and the featured performer was Christopher Houlihan, who played for the American Guild of Organists Hawaii chapter a few years ago. He opened with a hymn, Lobe den Herrn (Praise to the Lord), and apparently the… Read More During intermission, you … Facebook?!
Last week, my former student, Joey Fala, texted me about wanting to share “some breaking news,” and was eager to phone me. When we finally did talk, he wanted to confirm some of the details of his engagement here, for the fortieth anniversary of the Beckerath organ at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. That will be… Read More Super exciting news!
This past weekend was a highpoint for the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists: we hosted Michael Crisostomo Hey for the Ninth Annual Organ Concert and were treated to a dazzling display of virtuosity. As I was listening to him play, wave after wave of “chills” came over me. I was so impressed… Read More Dazzling display of virtuosity
It was nine years ago that I recommended to the local American Guild of Organists Executive Board that we bring Paul Jacobs, the youngest head of the Juilliard School Organ Department, to Hawaii to give a recital. I had heard him play several times, but it was his performance in New York at the Association of Lutheran… Read More Michael Hey, Concert Organist
One of the projects I’m currently working on is a presentation for the next regional convention of the American Guild of Organists, June 24-26 in Bakersfield, CA. If you want to check out their website, click here. One sentence on their home page gave me a ray of hope: There are many outstanding organs in our… Read More Is it over?
Since my last post, I have received an outpouring of support and thanks, for which I am most encouraged and grateful. When I read the letter to the choir on Thursday night, I told them that I always had dreams that I would die at the organ, but I guess that is not going to… Read More Death at the organ