After playing two Sunday morning services plus evensong and benediction in the afternoon I ate a quick snack before my friend Mark Russell took me to the airport. My flight left at 10:45 PM and I arrived in San Francisco at 6:10 AM. I would have felt really wiped out had I not been upgraded… Read More Over the top stunning!
When you met your significant other, did you have “a song,” that reminded you of each other? Maybe it was the music that you were both drawn to, or perhaps the text was especially meaningful. In the case of Carl Crosier and myself, ‘our song’ was the famed Albinoni (sic) “Adagio,” which we listened to… Read More Playing ‘Our Song’
On my way to the Cathedral of the Christ of Light, I got a text from John Renke: The cathedral Rector had a massive heart attack after the Saturday evening mass and died last night. You’re coming to a very interesting Sunday here! I heard more of the story at the announcement to the parish… Read More A day at the Cathedral
I have just come from the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, CA, where I had the great fortune of playing the Letourneau organ … and I have to say it is absolutely one of the greatest and most thrilling experiences of my life! Oh, I have played many beautiful organs in beautiful… Read More Absolutely the greatest … !
I’ve enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics lately and wondered if organ playing were ever an Olympic sport, I think we would have all rated this afternoon’s organ recital by Yuri McCoy a Gold Medal performance! This afternoon was the 13th Annual Organ Concert of the Hawai’i Chapter American Guild of Organists, and all I could… Read More Joyous homecoming
Karen Sender shared this article from the Oakland Tribune about our colleague and friend, John Renke, bringing Blue Christmas to Oakland. We surely do miss John! Blue Christmas aims to soothe those hurting during the holidays John Renke, Pastoral Associate for Divine Workshop & Operations for the Oakland Diocese, stands inside Oakland’s Cathedral of Christ the… Read More People send me news …
This afternoon, I will be playing for the St. Andrew’s Priory Class of 2017 Commencement ceremony at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. I remember that it was always one of Carl Crosier’s favorite events of the year—he says it always filled him with such pride and joy. Even though he did not ever actually have a daughter… Read More Tears of happiness
Last night was the Honolulu Chorale’s “Jubilate! A Celebration of Choral Music and Musicianship,” and I was reminded of the Hawaiian phrase, Ke Akua Ho’omaika’i Oe (God bless you). The dinner for John Renke was as much of a celebration of John’s ten years in Hawaii as well as a chance to say ‘goodbye.’ I was one… Read More Jubilate! Ke Akua Ho’omaika’i Oe, John!
Founded in 1966, the Honolulu Chorale, one of the longest-performing community choruses in the state of Hawaii, will hold its Annual Musical Event and Joe McAlister Award Dinner at the Honolulu Country Club tomorrow night. This year’s honoree is our colleague, John Renke, and you’ll never guess who was asked to be the speaker! Egad, little ‘ol… Read More Jubilate! honors John Renke
You probably remember that phrase from your childhood days, likely from your mother who didn’t want you going out on either Sunday through Thursday nights, because there was school the next day. Perhaps you also said it yourself to your children. Here’s how the Cambridge dictionary defines it. In this case, though, my friend John Renke… Read More It’s a school night!