Clergy Appreciation Dinner

On November 17, 2008, members of the Hawaii Chapter invited their clergy to an Appreciation Dinner at Central Union Church. The menu was Greek salad, spinach in phyllo pastry (spanikopita), rolls and Greek desserts (baklava), all thoroughly delicious.

After dinner, we were entertained by the beautiful young ladies of St. Andrew's Priory's Advanced Intermediate and Chamber Choirs. Directed by Deanna Turner, with accompanist David Hicken, the girls' exquisite choral tone and polished performance made for a superb evening, enjoyed by all.

John McCreary and The Hunchback of Notre Dame

John McCreary accompanied the silent movie, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," on Halloween night, October 31, 2008 at the Hawaii Theatre. Read an interview with John here.

Frederick Swann Birthday Greetings to Nyle Hallman

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend, Nyle Hallman, and congratulations on her long and distinguished career as a consummate musician.

Nyle has been my personal and professional friend for more than half of her life. Scary, isn't it, Nyle! From New York to Tulsa to Honolulu, Nyle and her wonderful husband, Roy, and I have enjoyed a unique and warm friendship which I will always treasure. The musical and personal times we have enjoyed are legion.

I dare say that all of you hearing these words this evening have been moved by Nyle's organ and harp performances on many and varied occasions in church, concert hall, and elsewhere. Further, many of you know first hand, her wonderful, warm, cheerful and generous spirit.

Nyle's indefatigable amount of energy and willingness to go the extra mile in every situation continues to amaze us all. She probably realizes, as I do, that the day may come when she has to sit home and rock. But until then she will undoubtedly continue to bless us all with her performances.

I'm sure that all of you join me in wishing Nyle an especially happy time on the occasion of this milestone birthday, and for all her years to come.

Fred Swann

More Organ Spectacular

Margaret Lloyd and Nyle Hallman played an organ duet.

Nyle Hallman is flanked by Kathy and Carl Crosier, wearing Organ Spectacular T-Shirts.

Nyle Hallman with Pastor Fritz Fritschel, author of "Hymn Hallman."

Margaret Lloyd (left) and Nyle Hallman

Nyle Hallman, harpist, is joined by Constance Uejio, Principal Harpist of the Honolulu Symphony, with Margaret Lloyd at the Organ.

Nyle Hallman Proclamation

Karl Bachman presented Nyle Hallman with a Proclamation from the City naming October 19, 2008 at Nyle Hallman Day in Honolulu. The Proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will join more than 300 other chapters in honoring the King of Instruments during its celebration of the International Year of the Organ; and

WHEREAS, Nyle Hallman is an outstanding performer of organ music and nationally recognized as an Associate of the American Guild of Organists, and

WHEREAS, the visitor industry of Hawaii has recognized Nyle Hallman as a premier talent in Waikiki for her harp accompaniment of both Emma Veary and Don Ho, and

WHEREAS, she and her husband co-founded and led the Honolulu Boy Choir for an entire generation, and

WHEREAS, continues to make important contributions to the musical life of our community as second chair harpist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and as a member of Flute a la Harpe, which performs for weddings, receptions, and other musical events.

NOW THEREFORE, I MUFI HANNEMANN, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, do hereby proclaim October 19, 2008 , to be NYLE HALLMAN DAY in the City and County of Honolulu, in honor of her musical talent and efforts that bring excellence to culture and the arts of our city and touch the hearts of our people.

Done this 19th day of October, 2008, in Honolulu, Hawaii

MUFI HANNEMANN

Celebration of the Organ, Harp and Nyle Hallman

(L-R Margaret Lloyd, Nyle Hallman, Connie Uejio, oboist Brian Greene)

Organ Spectacular in Honolulu, October 19, 2008 was an evening filled with beautiful music for organ and harp and starring AGO Hawaii's own Nyle Hallman, organist emerita of Central Union Church. Nyle was assisted ably by organist Margaret Lloyd and harpist/organist Constance Harding Uejio. We heard music for solo organ, solo harp, one harp and organ, two harps and organ, and two harps.

The program included:

Evensong, op. 68 (Charles Callahan)
Processional for Harp and Organ (Daniel Burton)
First Arabesque (Claude Debussy/trans. Carlos Salzedo)
Pisgah (Dale Wood)
Fairest Lord Jesus (arr. Garth Edmunson)
Prelude from Partita No. 3 for Two Harps (J.S. Bach/arr. Mschedelov)
Siciliano (J.S. Bach/arr. Gail Barber)
Playful Pizzicata for Two Harps (Benjamin Britten)
Bolero for Harps (Robert Barclay)
Ornament of Grace for Oboe and Organ (Bernard Wayne Sanders)
Ten Thousand Harps and Voices (Lowell Mason/arr. Susann McDonald & Diane Bish)
Kawohi Ku Kapulani and I'll Weave a Lei of Stars for You (H.D. Beamer/R. Alex Anderson)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (arr. Michael Burkhardt)

Surely one of the highlights of the evening was the singing of "Hymn Hallman," the text of which was commissioned by the AGO Hawaii Chapter, in celebration of Nyle Hallman. Sung to the tune, "Lasst uns erfreuen," (All Creatures of Our God and King), the words were written by The Rev. Fritz Fritschel of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu.


For nearly thirty years they played
Ecclesiastic music made,
Roy and Nyle
On this isle.
Their skills brought endless harmony
To Union’s faithful company.
With their choirs
All afire.
Roy and Nyle,
On this isle,
Brings a smile.

She sat at organs as a child
Pulling the stops while going wild
On the keyboard,
Like a surfboard.
Her feet and fingers fairly flew,
In major keys and minor, too.
On the keyboard
Like a surfboard,
Fairly sailing
Never failing.
E’er prevailing.

Once taught by Porter and by Sykes,
Coci, McCurdy and the likes
Worthy mentors
Known presenters
They taught her how to play her best,
Pipes, pistons, pedals and celeste.
Worthy mentor
Known presenter
Always giving
For the living
In thanksgiving.

Gave orchestra ephemeral flair,
With sounds of angels’ favorite air,
Fingers strumming,
Harp strings humming,
Her backseat prowess blessed the crowd,
With plucking sounds as on a cloud,
Here crescendo,
There glissando,
Now ritardo,
Soon allegro,
Ne’er pellegro.

Now for the notes as yet unplayed,
We raise our songs in accolade,
Let ‘er ring,
Let’s all sing.
Let music warm the hearts of all
New melodies the crowds enthrall,
Fancy fugues
Prim preludes
All the while,
Shades of Nyle,
All in style.

Organ Spectacular will celebrate Nyle Hallman

(Click on the photo to enlarge it)

Sunday, October 19, 7:00 pm

Central Union Church

1660 South Beretania Street

Honolulu

The public is cordially welcome to join in a spectacular event honoring Hawaii's beloved and extraordinary musician, Nyle Hallman. In celebration of Nyle's 80th birthday and her  many years of dedicated service to the community, Central Union Church and the Hawaii Chapter of the American Guild of Organists are delighted to sponsor this wonderful concert featuring organ and harp solos, duets and special works. The concert also highlights the 2008-2009 International Year of the Organ. Concerts in honor of the "King of Instruments" are being held simultaneously on this date all over the world.

The concert will feature works by Bach, Barclay, Britten and Burton as well as a piece for organ and oboe entitled "Ornament of Grace" by Bernard Wayne Sanders, the first prize winner of an international competition coordinated by the American Guild of Organists specifically for the Organ Spectacular concerts being held all over the world on this specific date.

Performers include Nyle Hallman herself as well as her beloved friends, Margaret Lloyd, Associate Minister of Music at Central Union Church and current Dean of the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists, and Constance Harding Uejio, Principal Harpist of the Honolulu Symphony and wedding coordinator and organist at Central Union Church.

Nyle Hallman is Assistant Director and Organist Emeritus at Central Union Church where she served for 29 years. She is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and Union Theological Serminary in New York City. Her organ teachers were Lauren B. Sykes, Claire Coci, Alexander McCurdy and Hugh Porter. She holds the degree of Associate of the American Guild of Organists. Since retirement in 1998, Nyle serves as second chair harpist with the Honolulu Symphony and is a wedding and associate organist at Central Union Church.

Hawaii Chapter AGO Wins Phonathon!

Imagine our great surprise and sheer delight at finding out that the Hawaii Chapter is the winner of the July 2008 AGO Phonathon, and will receive $1,500 as a prize! The Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support sponsored the contest to revisit and reconnect with past members to update their membership information.