Continued from the previous post... In the fall of 2021, Great Lakes Duo had two regional concert tours. Brian moved from Chicago to Tennessee during the pandemic, so I drove down south to play 3 concerts with him, and he drove up to Michigan to play two with me. Our first stop was Middle Tennessee State University, where piano prof Adam Clark was our gracious host, and I loved getting to know the 1981 Casavant in their recital hall, on…

I haven’t written a blog entry in quite some time, because for awhile I wasn’t sure if and when we’d ever have live concerts again. But since we are finally returning to live music, it turns out that I have some stories and pictures to share from those strange days. I played quite a few livestream concerts in 2020, which were always an adventure in their own right, but often not very picturesque, so we’ll skip most of them in…

Dear Readers, In the middle of summer 2020 while I'm compiling this blog post, all these activities of 2019 seem so very far away.  Flying across the country in airplanes; traveling far and wide (Arizona and Disneyworld!?); playing live concerts; getting up close with friends and strangers... That was then, back when we took all this for granted, and had no idea how quickly it could all change. For now, let's enjoy some glimpses of travels, nature, and organs from…

It was a treat this past summer to attend the AGO National Convention in Kansas City in July. I took the train there and enjoyed watching the scenery pass by, going over both iconic rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi. Another fun fact about the railroad: on a Sunday, while riding through Missouri and Kansas, one cannot order alcohol in the dining or cafe car (per state-wide liquor laws) So get your booze while you’re still in Illinois! There were…

During the Midwest's “Polar Vortex” of January 2019, sitting at home watching the snow pile up, it seems like a good time to update the blog again. In the dead of last winter, January 2018, I found myself driving over to Lansing, (right in the middle of the Hand) for a concert I played for the Lansing AGO, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. At AGO dean Barbara Hiranapradist’s request, I fashioned a program using both works by and inspired by…

2017, it was good to know you.  But before you go, let's sit down and remember all the good times we had together.  There were some not-so-good times too, but my blog audience doesn't necessarily need to read all about them, do they?    I had a relatively calm, quiet, at-home kind of winter last year, reading books, learning notes, with the exception of driving down to South Bend, Indiana in January for the inaugural concert by Craig Cramer on…

So, if you visit my blog for fancy pictures of organs, chats about organ gossip, and to see who I brushed shoulders with in the organ world this month, this is NOT the post for you! [Mark and I in Japan!!] However, if you like interesting pictures, stories, and talk of my exotic travels, (and/or you heard that I've been in Japan, and want details) this is JUST the place for you. My brother has been stationed with the US…

  While the weather was looking like this I was happy to have the opportunity to jump on a plane and go somewhere a bit more temperate. This time was the Pacific Northwest. Not only did I have the invitation to play a recital on a beautiful organ built by Martin Pasi, I got to see old college friends who I wish I spent more time with, play incredible organs, AND visit the shops where some of them are made.…

 Hi, my name is Rhonda, and I'm not good with social media.  Yes, I understand, I should be updating my blog regularly, otherwise I lose my (already spotty) reader-base.  People expect content on a constant basis.  It's 2016 - one should be uploading daily!  And where is that Facebook/ Twitter account anyway?  I know, I know...  Well, anyway, here is a start at catching my online life up to where the rest of me has traveled since I last posted. …

As I write this, summer seems like a long time ago... When I stand out in our back yard, with snow surrounding me, and negative windchill factors whipping my face, it's hard to imagine that just months ago, it all looked like this... Just a memory now! So, onto other memories of summer.  Our family attended the Buttermilk Jamboree, held in June nearby in Delton, Michigan - kind of a hippie family folk and roots music festival.  They had some…