American Public Media’s Pipedreams host Michael Barone spent five busy days on the road, initially involved in promotional activity for Classical South Florida and the local organ scene. First he spoke at a special reception at Miami’s Steinway Piano Gallery, attended by finalists from the Miami International Organ Competition (l to r: Thomas Schuster, competition chair; Christopher Keenan [3rd]; Thomas Gaynor [2nd], Alcee Chriss III [1st and audience prizes], and Barone) and enjoyed a concert at Trinity Cathedral featuring guest artist Simon Johnson from St. Paul’s, London. The next day, Barone interviewed the competition finalists for a subsequent broadcast and, as competition judges were deliberating, provided an impromptu introduction to the Ruffatti organ for the large, expectant, and patient audience at Miami’s Epiphany Catholic Church.
The following day, he and competition judge Nicole Marane (organist at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta) were driven by Florida AGO ambassador-at-large Joanne Schulte to Naples, where they teamed up with John Fenstermaker and an elegant Taylor & Boody organ to present a mini-version of Pipedreams Live! to a considerable audience in Bower Chapel of The Moorings retirement community. The next day, Barone was off to Nashville to be master-of-ceremonies for Wilma Jensen’s 85th birthday gala at St. George’s Episcopal Church and from there flew to Cincinnati to enjoy Peter Richard Conte’s guest appearance, with local mezzo-soprano Stacey Rishoi, showcasing the splendid Skinner organ installed by Harley Piltingsrud at the Cincinnati Museum Center/Depot.
Photo: Miami International Organ Competition participants and Michael Barone (photo credit: Ann Robbins-Udel, Robbins-Udel Images)
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