September was the month of beginnings, October a season of harvest and the spooktacular, and November? A brief pause for reflection and anticipation, with quite a lot to be thankful for, and much to look forward to.

Take our October event, co-sponsored with the Olympia chapter. Fright Night! was an evening of good cheer, music diabolical and silly, classic Buster Keaton, and a splendid reception following. We had a diverse audience of chapter members, church folk, and some from the neighborhood. The youngest was my fourth-grade piano student, who was intently fascinated by Glenn Guhr’s performance of Never More Shall Prayer Ravish These Lips from Howard Hanson’s opera, Merry Mount. As well, a young couple who lives nearby the church, by chance found out there is a real pipe organ in the neighborhood and thus came to our event. What struck me most, though, was the response of the audience to Buster Keaton’s Haunted House. It’s been a long time since I heard such sheer delight – whoops and guffaws as only Buster Keaton can elicit. In today’s world, more than ever, we need such joy in our lives, especially in community. Thank you, fellow performers – Tim, Sheila, Glenn, and Dennis – for giving us all a chance to revel in the night. Thank you, Jan and Sandy, for the gorgeous reception. Thank you, Spanaway Lutheran Church, always the gracious host.

Anticipating what is ahead, we have a variety of compelling opportunities over the next few months: in November, to learn about the unique place that composer Margaret Sandresky holds in the musical world; in December, to play your favorite Advent/Christmas pieces on the marvelous Lagerquist organ; in January to share ideas about preludes and postludes with one another. Here are the details; we hope you can join us!

• Monday, November 14: Celebrating Margaret Sandresky Wesley Home Gardens, Des Moines. Hear about the life and compositions of this fourth-generation female composer, presented by Wyatt Smith. Afterward, enjoy a reception sponsored by the Wesley Foundation.
• Monday, December 19: Christmas Party 2022 Pacific Lutheran University. Share a favorite Advent or Christmas piece on the Lagerquist organ. Christmas refreshments following.
• Monday, January 16: New Year, New Music St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gig Harbor. Bring music to share/demonstrate, with particular emphasis on practical preludes and postludes.