At Christmas time I stayed two nights on the island of Kauai, where I played a concert with the Kauai Chorale, under the leadership of Shane Morris Wise. I told you about my rude awakening at 3 am in the morning when roosters began crowing. Go back and read my post, “No paltry amount of… Read More As if on cue …
Yesterday I woke up to a text on my phone that our dear friend, organist and harpist Nyle Hallman, had passed away. That was confirmed in a phone call with her daughter, Kathy Hallman, who was her mother’s constant companion, page turner and harp mover. We send our deepest condolences to the Hallman family at… Read More Rest in peace, Nyle
Tributes are pouring in for our dear friend, Dr. Frederick Swann, who passed away last night. Here’s what was posted on the American Guild of Organists Facebook page: From the Diocese of Orange, California and Christ Cathedral: GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2022) — It is with great sadness that the Diocese of Orange and Christ… Read More RIP Fred Swann
This afternoon was Alcee Chriss’ phenomenal recital at Central Union Church, and all I could say about it is “Wow. Just Wow.” Calling him a virtuoso is woefully inadequate. Not only did he bring infinite colors to the tonal palette, his use of the organ and his jazzy improvisatory technique was so far beyond human… Read More Wow. Just Wow.
On Easter Day in the middle of carrying food and decorations down to the 8th floor recreation deck for my Easter brunch, I received a phone call in the elevator. It was Kathy Hallman, daughter of organist Nyle Hallman, who said to me, “Kathy, you’re probably in the middle of Easter cooking, but Mom and… Read More Perfect pitch not needed
Apparently a number of my friends were unaware that our mutual friend, Preston Larson, died last December of Covid. The post I wrote, “RIP Preston Larson 1942-2020” somehow got overlooked in the busy Advent/Christmas season. So if you’d like to read his obituary, you can click the link. I guess I must have been pretty… Read More A really good friend
Last night Central Union Church and the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists honored Nyle Hallman on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Ten organists performed, including the birthday girl herself, who was rewarded with a sustained standing ovation. All three of her children were in attendance, plus Nyle’s sister and other family members who… Read More Nyle’s night
Pure energy and exhilaration… that’s how I would describe tonight’s Oahu Choral Society’s concert with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. I came away breathless, my heart racing with a spring in my step! The music, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, were the perfect pair of works, each with its driving rhythms yet singable… Read More Pure energy and exhilaration!
If ever the Lutheran Church of Honolulu were to name a poet laureate, hands down it would be Pastor Fritz Fritschel. He was for many years the Assisting Pastor and was known for his use of frog puppets—all with names starting with F—during the children’s sermon. I won’t ever hear the names Felix, Fergus, Franklin,… Read More Our beloved poet laureate
I only spent one year in Princeton, NJ, attending graduate school at Westminster Choir College where I obtained my Master of Music degree in Organ Performance, but I daresay it had more influence on me as a musician than did five years of organ lessons in high school, a summer studying with French virtuoso Marcel… Read More A sad day