No question, the performances at organists’ conventions are the best of the best, AND these performers are at the top of their game. We heard two of best this afternoon, Ken Cowan from Rice University and Peter Sykes from Juilliard and Boston University. Ken Cowan played a gorgeous E. M. Skinner organ (1925/1928) at Trinity… Read More Connections
When I haven’t seen people for awhile, generally they ask me two questions: “What are you working on?” “Where are you going on your next trip? Well, I’m glad you asked! I am pleased to tell you that Scott Fikse asked me to play the organ on his last Sunday at the Lutheran Church of… Read More Fingers crossed!
I’ve been in Lisbon, Portugal for just about 24 hours and I’ve noticed several unique features about my trip so far. I was thrilled to arrive in the Lisbon Airport to find my friend, Jo Ann Condry, whom I met in Italy several years ago at the Historic Organ Study Tours, along with a new… Read More Day One in Lisbon
One of my tasks this weekend is to compile a list of all the foreign countries I’ve visited in the last ten years—it’s one of the questions on a visa application I’m filling out, in addition to answering whether I’ve ever been afflicted with a dangerous mental disorder, arrested or convicted for any offense, or… Read More Next stop, Russia!
the July 26th wedding of Joey Fala to Sarah Jones will stand out in my memory. Yes, I have played the organ at over 6000 (!) weddings, but Joey’s wedding rates right up there at the top. Regular readers of my blog know all about my former organ student, Joey, whom I first met at… Read More Over 6000+ weddings and still …
Today we visited a hydroelectric plant in Rjukan that was taken over by the Germans when they occupied Norway during World War II. It was here that the Germans did research on “heavy water,” and had they been allowed to continue, would have developed the atomic bomb. In this plant Norwegians were originally producing an… Read More If not for the Norwegians…
Just as we were checking into the Kvikne Hotel in Balestrand, Jo Ann Condry caught sight of this poster by the elevator. “Hey, Kathy, there’s Evening Prayer tonight at 9:00 pm.” We had visited St Olaf church before dinner, and decided it would be a nice service to attend. We arrived about 8:45 pm and the… Read More Evening Prayer in Balestrand
Twenty-five years ago, I remember being at Troldhaugen, Edvard Grieg’s summer home, with my husband, Carl Crosier, and trying our hardest to stay awake. You see, it had taken us 30 hours, including flights and layovers from Honolulu, to reach this peaceful place. We checked into the hotel upon our arrival, and then set out… Read More Twenty-five years ago …