One Big Weekend, Opus V
September 12-13, 1998

What a Great Weekend!
 
Thanks to Columbia River Organ Club for hosting a marvelous bash. PSTOS now has a definite challenge for 1999!
 
At 7:00 am, Saturday morning September 12th, a tour bus loaded with lots of yawning PSTOS members left the Shoreline Community College parking lot and headed for Portland and ONE BIG WEEKEND-OPUS V. It was a truly terrific weekend.
 
Roy Williams, our very competent driver (and PSTOS member) navigated the I-5 traffic AND the infamous Portland area traffic beautifully, and delivered us all to the first venue with time to spare.
 
Chris Nordwall was ready to perform on the 3/13 Wurlitzer installed in the Scottish Rite Temple, and he did a fine job, playing a very interesting selection of music. It's a delight to see and hear the young organists performing so well. Chris is a real "chip off the old block"-how could he fail with all the help he has at home?!
 
Following a delicious buffet lunch served by the CROC workers, everyone was treated to an enjoyable program by Marti Lynch on the Devtronix Paramount organ at the Hollywood Theatre. Her arrangements were clever, and her commentary added lots to her presentation.
 
The evening program was a genuine eye opener. A new name in the Northwest, Martin Ellis knocked the socks off everyone there! This young man is an outstanding classical organist, truly exciting to hear. His program was chosen especially for a theatre organ crowd, and it couldn't have been better. (Those who happened to hear the beginning of his "stint" at Uncle Milt's the next afternoon were speechless-to think such an excellent classical musician could also come through in such an outstanding way at the theatre organ!)
 
On to Uncle Milt's for an evening jam session, where we were treated to an assortment of fine musicians, styles, solos, duets (piano and organ), and an all around great evening.
 
Charlie Balogh, from the beautiful Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, Arizona, was the featured organist on Sunday morning at Uncle Milt's. Charlie is a "swingin' musician", and plays with a definite beat. His program was a real toe-tapper and his many years of experience truly "put him in the driver's seat" with no doubt who was in charge! It would be great to have him return to the Northwest.
 
Rounding out the weekend was a trip to the Day Music Co. Auditorium where Jonas Nordwall and Donna Parker presented an interesting group of pieces, some solos and some duets, on two Allen organs. The George Wright Signature Organ was unavailable at the last minute, and two classical instruments were substituted, but Donna and Jonas were unhampered-their presentation was outstanding as usual, and enjoyed by everyone.
 
Roy, our bus driver, braved the I-5 bridge over to Vancouver, and the ever-increasing I-5 traffic, and safely returned us to Seattle in time for dinner! Thanks to Roy for making the bus arrangements and doing such a magnificent job of getting us to all the assorted venues on time. What a great thing the bus was!