A New Chapter!

So much has happened in the past month and a half! It's been a whirlwind: flying down to Atlanta in mid-March to audition, receiving a job offer later that month (what a wonderful phone call that was), and working quickly to make arrangements to find an apartment, and to figure out how to schlep my things (and my cat) down south. Not to mention, I was also lucky to have secured vaccination appointments in April, which were very welcome before the imminent move.

After a stressful week or three of packing, moving, picking out and assembling lots of new furniture, unpacking, and all of the other chores one would expect during a move, I have finally begun to feel at home here in the new flat. After six months living back in the home in which I grew up as a child, it’s felt freeing to have my own space to decorate and organize, as well as a new city to discover. 

Käthe safely getting to know members of the congregation @ Glenn Memorial UMC

And of course, I have started to grow comfortable in my new capacity as Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts (that mouthful is getting slightly easier to spit out as time goes by) - the whole reason for the big move! I'm always delighted when the dynamics in a church seem healthy; it’s not a rarity, per se, but over the years, I've observed my fair share of toxic or uncomfortable workplaces and relationships. I'm so pleased that at Glenn, the energy shared by the clergy and staff is one of enthusiasm and positivity in collaboration. And, I’ve been made to feel so welcome as the newbie; it’s lovely to have this kind of support.

The new job is revealing some opportunities for my own professional development, too. I’ve already begun to make networking connections with fellow musicians and clergy members at Glenn and in neighboring congregations, and my boss, Michael, is bursting with innovative ideas and projects for the future. I am also getting used to acting as the principal organist, rather than an organ scholar or assistant organist. While Michael is an accomplished player, I am the designated contact for organ maintenance and projects. I’d be lying if I denied feeling trepidation about that level of responsibility, but I also try to remember that I am sufficiently trained for the role (it’s also made me appreciate the organ maintenance class that I took as an undergraduate at Eastman). But being the main “organ person” has gently pushed me along the journey that I referenced in my previous blog post: that of learning to be one’s own teacher and not seek out affirmation for every little registration, interpretation, or tempo. It’s a work in progress, to be sure. 

I’ve set a challenge for myself to record a new video at the organ every week or so to share with my new congregation, whether it’s a piece of repertoire, or a “behind the scenes” explanation about how part of the instrument works. These videos will hopefully serve to educate, entertain, or engage in some substantive way. I, along with many other organists of my generation, believe it is extremely important to keep our instrument relevant and beloved! If one of my videos strikes a chord with someone who may never have previously paid much attention to the organ voluntaries, that’s a victory. Or perhaps if someone’s child overhears one of my performances on Facebook or Youtube and is inspired to inquire about organ lessons, that would be a huge win, too! It’s also a useful tool for my self-discipline as a performer. Once one leaves school and no longer applies to every organ competition out there, it can start to feel less important to be able to record a “perfect take” of a performance (especially as we begin to exit the era of COVID pre-recorded services and performances. Laus Deo!), so I sincerely hope this project will help keep my chops sharp, as well as aiding the organ outreach effort. You can see an example of one of these videos here.