Today Naomi Castro posted this photo of bass Keane Ishii on her FaceBook page with the news that he has accepted the position of choir director of Holy Nativity Episcopal Church. She wrote: Bittersweet times this rehearsal. Saying goodbye to my long-time LCH brother, Keane Ishii, who is going on to do great things as choral director… Read More New beginnings
Today was workshop day at the Region IX Convention of the American Guild of Organists in Bakersfield. One of the workshops I was most anxious to hear was one titled “Performing in the Golden Years: Just Survive or Really Thrive?” It was given by Dorothy Young Riess, who is now in her 82nd year on… Read More Age is no big deal
This afternoon I attended perhaps the most powerful presentation I ever seen or heard in my life. The artist was Ken Medema, a blind pianist who for four decades, has inspired people through storytelling and music. He said that we as church musicians have the task of connecting the stories with the music. He played a… Read More The power of music
I received so many positive comments about my last post (concerning the story of my retirement in the newspaper) that I thought it only fair that I share Carol Langner’s original news release about Mark Wong. And today happens to be his birthday! Lutheran Church Announces New Organist Mark Wong has joined the staff of… Read More The unpublicized story
Some people have asked that I share with you a poem by Fritz Fritschel, written for last Sunday’s celebration of my thirty-five years as Organist at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, so here it is: On a Day of Celebration Those little black marks on the page Neither move nor make sound, Lying dormant, locked… Read More Those little black marks!
It was only because of pressure exerted by my husband, Carl, that I decided I should probably have a speech ready for today’s celebration. And so here it is: I first want to thank all of you for coming today. Those of you who know me know that I would much rather be busy behind… Read More Not another boring musical bio
This morning our Iolani School Chaplain, the Rev. Daniel Leatherman (whose mom, by the way, studies organ with me) and I worked on configuring the school’s Virtual Organ which we use in the gymnasium for four All-School Chapels a year. It consists of two keyboards and a pedalboard and uses software called Hauptwerk on a… Read More The Virtual Organ and the Virtual Organist
So yesterday, I opened my email and found this message from the Lutheran Church of Honolulu: You may remember that when I announced that Christmas Day 2012 would be my last service, there was mention of a celebration party happening in January. Well — it’s going to be April 14th, and to be honest, it… Read More Time to party (finally!)
During Lent, many people give up small luxuries such as chocolate or desserts as a form of penitence. The 40 days before Easter are supposed to be spent in prayer or fasting. Well, I have my own way of penitence — getting up every morning to practice the organ, specifically the Great Eighteen Chorales (also… Read More Lenten discipline
Bill Potter, the LCH webmaster, recently posted a tribute to me and my tenure as organist. If you haven’t found it already, here are the links describing Carl’s and my many years at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu: Carl Crosier, Cantor, 1972-2011 Katherine Crosier, Organist, 1978-2012 You will read that Carl was originally hired as… Read More Tributes