Christopher Houlihan, Concert Organist

Called "one of the brightest stars in the new generation of American organists," Christopher Houlihan gave a stunning recital on Friday, June 11th at Central Union Church. The recital marked the Fifth Annual Organ Concert sponsored by the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists.

Christopher's virtuosic program was:

Toccata (Leo Sowerby)

Trio Sonata in C Major, BWV 539 (J. S. Bach)

Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 (J. S. Bach)

Allegro from Symphony VI (Charles-Marie Widor)

Vocalise à la Habañera (Maurice Ravel, arr. Houlihan)

Romance and FInal from Symphony IV (Louis Vierne)

Signing autographs . . .

Christopher is surrounded by members of the Hawaii AGO Executive Board.

Christopher with Miki Yamamoto

There was even a canine listener in the audience!

Annual Dinner Meeting, May 31, 2010

The Hawaii Chapter AGO's annual dinner meeting was held on May 31st at Assaggio Bistro Kahala, where over 30 members dined on traditional Italian cooking. At this meeting we are presented with the coming year's budget and elect new officers. The incoming Executive Board members are: Karl Bachman, dean; Paul Lillie, sub-dean; Ina Young, secretary and Samuel Lam, treasurer. Other Board members include Elizabeth Wong, scholarship chair and Katherine Crosier, newsletter/publicity/webmaster. Members at large are Margaret Lloyd and Young Pak.

Outgoing Dean Margaret Lloyd greets the new Dean, Karl Bachman.

(L-R) Incoming Secretary Ina Young, Esther Yuan, Tom Poole, and Treasurer Sam Lam.

(L-R) Marie Wang, Connie Uejio, Kathy Hallman and Nyle Hallman.

Some of the youngest members of the Hawaii Chapter:

(L-R) Christopher, Joey and Jordan, shown with Holly Lindsay.

(L-R) Bud Klein, Joseph Kotowski, Elizabeth Wong and Anita Webber.

A waitress brings another plate of food to

(L-R) John Renke, Yuri McCoy, John McCreary and Rob Lloyd.

Beebe Freitas and Karl Bachman shown above enjoy stimulating conversation.

(L-R) Betsy McCreary, Gloria Faltstrom and Young Pak.

Karen Leatherman and Donald Matsumori.

Young Organists Concert, April 24, 2010

Twelve students of Katherine Crosier played a concert on Saturday, April 24th, at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. This was the Fourth Annual Young Organists Concert and thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance. Donations were received to benefit the Donald "Don" L. Conover Scholarship Fund.

The program was as follows:

Joshua Rosales, "Toccata in F" (Dietrich Buxtehude)

Colette Jones, "Caves" (Robert Powell) and "Neno, neno (Kenyan Folk Song)

Noa Williams, "Arroz con leche" (Hispanic Folk Song)

Lillie Jones, "When we are living" (Wayne Leupold) and "Processional in G" (John Barr)

Theresa Madrigal, "Song for the Oboe" (Alfred V. Fedak),

"How Firm a Foundation" (Early American hymn)

Nathalie Jones, "Elegie" (Martha Sobaje) and "Pedal Dynamico" (Janet Correll)

Daniel Yuen-Schat, "Communion on 'Humbly We Adore Thee'" (John G. Barr) and

"All'Offertorio" (Domenico Zipoli)

Naomi Yuen-Schat, "Steal away to Jesus" (Larry Visser)

Christopher Lindsay, "Prelude and Fugue in C Major" (J. S. Bach?)

Jordan McCreary, "Fanfare for Organ" (Richard Proulx)

Joshua Yuen-Schat, "My soul magnifies the Lord" and

"Earth and all stars" (Michael Burkhardt)

Joey Fala, "Prelude in G Major" (J. S. Bach)

Joey Fala and Katherine Crosier. This is Joey's last Young Organist Concert

as he will be leaving for college at the end of the summer.

Bach, Britten and Butler

J. Melvin Butler, Canon Musician of St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, was the featured guest recitalist at a concert held at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. His program included: Prelude and Fugue in D major (J. S. Bach), Concerto del Sign. Torelli (J. G. Walther), In quiet joy (Mark Winges), Hymnus on Veni Creator (deGrigny), Missa Brevis (Britten) and Final from Symphony I (Vierne).

Mel Butler was joined by the trebles of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu in Britten's haunting "Missa Brevis," conducted by AGO member Carl Crosier.

J. Melvin Butler has taught organ improvisation and church music at the University of Washington. Also a professional violist, he performs regularly with the Onyx Chamber Players in Seattle. Prior to arriving in Seattle in 1991, he was for many years Organist/Choirmaster of the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. During that time he was also Associate Professor of Church Music at the Eastman School of Music, a violist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director and Conductor of the Rochester Bach Festival Chorus. During the Vietnam era, he served his country as violist in the U. S. Navy String Quartet.

Clergy Appreciation Dinner

We met on November 16, 2009 for our annual Clergy Appreciation Dinner, held at Central Union Church. We were treated to a delightful concert by the Honolulu Boy Choir, followed by a catered lasagne and salad dinner. The dinner is an opportunity to say "thank you" between clergy and their organists/choirmasters.

Pipe Organ Encounter -- Positively Outstanding Experience!

Friday, September 25th was the opening Hawaii AGO meeting of the 2009-2010 season. It was held at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, home of a 2-manual Rudolf von Beckerath organ.

The evening began with a time-honored AGO tradition, the potluck supper! We enjoyed fried chicken, meatballs, noodles, sushi, tossed green salad, potato salad, fresh fruit and cookies for dessert.


Then we went into the church where Joey Fala and Jordan McCreary, our POE students, showed slides and videos and talked about their experience in San Diego at Pipe Organ Encounter. By all accounts, it was a fabulous week, filled with music, exploring many types of pipe organs, friendship and fun.
Joey and Jordan each performed one piece on the organ that they had worked on during POE week. Joey played "Recessional" by William Mathias and Jordan played "Poco vivace, op. 9" by Hermann Schroeder. It was a most enjoyable evening for all in attendance.

Hawaii Students at Pipe Organ Encounter

During the week of August 2-8, two Hawaii students, Joey Fala and Jordan McCreary, attended the Pipe Organ Encounter hosted by the San Diego Chapter.

This letter was written to The American Organist magazine, which sums up Joey and Jordan's experience:

I am writing with immense gratitude for the opportunity to attend the Pipe Organ Encounters over the past years. As an aspiring young organist, these weeks have been a source of vigor, camaraderie, and incredible inspiration.

In a sometimes solitary pursuit, the POE draws together organists of varying backgrounds, and ages to share mutual interests and savor one another's talents. My lessons with distinguished instructors have immeasurably guided my techniques and interpretation. My peers have challenged me to greater devotion to our instrument and its divine repertoire. And I am forever thankful for the lasting friendships built from these times together. (Albert W. Tomasso, Farmington, CT)

The week includes group and private lessons, concerts by prominent organists, field trips to a number of different types of organ installations, and lots of fun meeting kids the same age with the same interests.

This group picture was taken on the last day, a concert by the POE students.

There was a field trip to the Blackinton organ factory.

POE students were treated to a theatre organ concert at the Balboa Theatre.

"Open Console" opportunities gave POE students a chance to try out different organs.

They even got a chance to see and hear a pedal harpsichord.