Since 2006, the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Guild of Organists has been offering the gift of an annual organ concert for the community. Each year a rising star in the organ world is invited to come to the islands, and concerts are performed in Honolulu as well as the neighbor islands. Year after year, these concerts provide inspiration to local organists and other musicians, providing an experience that would otherwise not happen.
Organists are fewer in number and yet, people continue to be inspired by the organ virtuosos who perform on magnificent local pipe organs. Many of these visiting artists introduce the pipe organ to young children in school seminars, and these children are captivated by such encounters. These concerts benefit the general public far beyond their main performance.
Due to the overwhelming and enthusiastic response to the 2006 recital by Juilliard organist, Paul Jacobs, the Hawaii Chapter has sponsored an Annual Organ Concert in the years since. The artists who have been featured have been Rising Stars who have gone on to stellar careers and have made their mark on the organ world.
Read about the history of the Annual Concerts in Hawaii and a roster of past artists.