Yesterday I atttended the annual Iolani Christmas concert with the orchestra and chorus, an event to which the “Retirees” are special guests, with a luncheon following. I “retired” after twenty years as Chapel Organist at the school, but even now, continue to accompany the Iolani Chorus and Hokuloa Singers for their winter and spring concerts,… Read More I’m a Retiree, really?!
One of the first things I teach my young students is what to do after your piece is finished: Press the CANCEL button! That is to prevent any “oopsies!” if you touch a key by mistake. But, in spite of all my good intentions, at the end of the opening number (Hallelujah Chorus) from last… Read More Caught up in the moment
Tonight was the Iolani School’s Winter Concert for the Hokuloa Singers and Chorus, and we had a closed circuit television set up on the organ console so I could see the conductor, John Alexander. It consists of a video camera connected to a television monitor and it has worked extremely well in the past—there is no delay in… Read More Technology – BAH, HUMBUG!
Tonight as I was reading my email, I came across the weekly listing of events for St. Andrew’s Cathedral and was surprised to read my name there! On May 8 at 7:30 pm, next week Friday, in the Cathedral, will be ‘Iolani School’s annual Spring Concert with the ‘Iolani Chorus and Hokuloa Singers, featuring John… Read More Change is in the air
Along with playing for services, organists are frequently called to accompany choirs. I myself started accompanying choirs when I was fifteen and got my first church job at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Burbank, CA. (I was paid $66.67 a month which included two weekly choir rehearsals plus a Sunday morning service and warmup!) When I entered… Read More Accompanying the choir