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 …
Even though it’s been an absolute ton of work, I’m really enjoying playing the organ at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Like this past weekend: I played three services there (Friday night Candlemas, Sunday morning Solemn High Mass and Sunday afternoon Vespers and Benediction), in addition to the 9 am service at Nuuanu Congregational Church, making… Read More Sore neck no more!
It’s been awhile since I bought an iPad to substitute for all the paper I’m burning through as an organist at two different churches, but as of now, I’ve been too afraid to use the iPad in the service. Instead, I’ve relied on all my paper copies of the sheet music, being that I don’t… Read More Christmas Eve iPad debut!
If indeed the period between Halloween and Christmas is called the season of excess, I’ve got it in spades! As you may have learned, I have two completely different church positions, taking up much of my waking hours. Let me share with you what parts of the service I play on the organ: Nu‘uanu Congregational… Read More Too many notes … too much!
It’s a world of laughterA world of tearsIt’s a world of hopesAnd a world of fearsThere’s so much that we shareThat it’s time we’re awareIt’s a small town after all. (Sorry, I altered the words slightly for this post!) I always tell people that the city of Honolulu is really a small town, even though… Read More Small town, indeed!
It’s 5:20 am and I’ve already been up and about for an hour, packing last-minute items into my suitcase. As I have done for the last few years, I am going away to be with my family for my birthday. I had made the reservation a few months ago, and of course, I didn’t think… Read More Birthday respite?!
Well, maybe it’s not entirely life-changing, but at least it’s going to change my life at leisure. I can say with certainty that my life of “retirement” is over, and it’s all because of a phone call I got last Sunday afternoon from the Rev. Paul Lillie, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. You may… Read More Life-changing phone call
And in the “Adventures as a Church Organist, episode 813 …” I found an article recently, written by Ashley Danyew, on the skills needed to be a church musician. The skills included: The complete article may be found here: “8 Skills that set you apart as a church musician.”) Let me expound on number 2,… Read More Church organist adventures
After my huge weekend (three big services: a 90-minute double funeral on Saturday, a service at Nuuanu Congregational and a Solemn Mass at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church) I wanted to let you know that I was given a special “honoraria” from the parish of St. Mark’s—a five-strand pikake leí! (In addition to a check, of… Read More Five-strand pikake lei!
A couple of weeks ago I joined in a Zoom meeting of Deans in the American Guild of Organists. The Dean of the AGO Chapter is like the local president, and I am completing my second year. I think this is at least my third, and maybe even my fourth (!) stint as Dean of… Read More Just called to say ‘Hello’