I may as well titled this post, “Changing Hats.” Or how about “Juggling Balls.” Or try this one, “The Ultimate Multitasker!” It’s been quite a week! Last Saturday I was cheering on my former student, Sophia Stark, as she starred in a Disney-themed concert with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra concert at the Waikiki Shell. Sophia… Read More Switching gears
This weekend, Sophia Stark will be singing with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (HSO) in a concert featuring the music from Disney musicals. I believe the last post I wrote about Sophia was when she did a fundraiser for the HSO back in 2022 (“Sophia’s Night”) on her way to study at the Manhattan School of… Read More Amazing Sophia!
It’s a world of laughterA world of tearsIt’s a world of hopesAnd a world of fearsThere’s so much that we shareThat it’s time we’re awareIt’s a small town after all. (Sorry, I altered the words slightly for this post!) I always tell people that the city of Honolulu is really a small town, even though… Read More Small town, indeed!
Face it, what’s happening in our world is pretty depressing and grim in case you watch the daily news. Therefore it was a welcome respite to go to the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra’s concert on Sunday afternoon — a new season, a new conductor and new concert outfits! Australian-Chinese conductor Dane Lam is the new Music… Read More Awesome season opener!
The encore is a piece that is added to the performance that is usually not listed in the printed program, and is dependent upon sufficient applause and positive reaction from the audience. Artists usually plan what they’re going to play for an encore—usually a short piece to send the audience on its way. When I… Read More The encore
Due to jet lag, I’ve been in a cocoon the last ten days after having returned from my European tour. It was a glorious two weeks of seeing magnificent cathedrals, stunning organ cases, eating scrumptious food, getting acquainted with new and old friends as well as enjoying time with family (my two sisters.) Each day… Read More Pure joy!
Yesterday’s opening number in the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of the season was “Raise the Roof” by Michael Daugherty, featuring the orchestra’s principal timpanist, Brad Davis. This was certainly a new one for me, and perhaps I’m showing off my musical ignorance by saying that I had never heard of a timpani concerto before.… Read More A timpani “tour de force”
I was privileged to watch a livestream of Naomi Castro’s graduate recital today—if you look at the Tag Cloud on the right column, I’ve written about her frequently. She grew up at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu (in fact, I played the organ for her parents’ wedding!), and her mother and father sang in the… Read More “All in one piece!”
The next few weeks I’ll be out of my comfort zone as extensive renovations at Nuuanu Congregational Church will move the worship services to the church gymnasium until perhaps the first week in June. That means I’ll be playing a digital piano instead of organ for the service — DEFINITELY out of my comfort zone.… Read More Out of my comfort zone
The night before last, I attended “Sophia’s Symphonic Send-off,” a fundraiser for the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sophia Stark, the daughter of Darel and Georgine Stark, shortly before she travels to Tennessee for the national Miss Teen Volunteer American Pageant. In the fall, Sophia will also be attending Manhattan School of Music in New York… Read More Sophia’s night