July is here, with August soon to follow. For the church musician, the liturgical year is far less busy now. Music educators similarly find a welcome change of pace after another full school year. Our membership also includes performing artists, who actually might find themselves busier during the summer. Still others have a regular schedule of work or retirement all year long. Even so, I hope summer brings everyone an invitation to renewal – whether that is the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues at any number of conventions and festivals, a chance to find retreat in the quiet majesty of the Pacific Northwest mountains, or a simple pause in routine during the glorious long evenings.

In July and August, there is no shortage of compelling events. As I look at the calendar, I see many performances coming up by next-generation artists with significant ties to the Tacoma-Seattle area. What a joy to see young musicians, having charted their own course, come into their own. Bravo!

Two more events of note include:

The Open House at Paul Fritts’ shop on July 23 from 1:00-3:00 to see Opus 43, a new 2-manual 32-stop organ bound for St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, Ohio.

The Tacoma Bach Festival, from July 28-30, under the direction of Dr. Steven Zopfi. I encourage you to see the event listings for more details about the three concerts, which all look wonderful! Also, do check out the TBF website to learn more about the organization, which was founded in 2022.

I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events, or as our paths cross. May the summer be a blessing to all!

Cheers,

Cheryl