Retired organist keeps making music

Katherine Crosier, who recently retired after serving as organist for the Lutheran Church of Hono­lulu for 35 years, is playing as much of the kind of music she and her husband love before she goes blind.

"Nearly a year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with macular degeneration, and I don’t know how long my vision will hold up," she said in an interview. "When you have macular degeneration, you see straight lines as wavy. You can imagine how hard it is to read music.

"It happened very suddenly. I had a crazy dream of Carl and myself in a concert, and he had put the organ console on a 45-degree slanted board so that my music was falling off the music rack, and I was screaming that I couldn’t play like that! I woke up and saw everything visually looked at a 45-degree angle."

Crosier added, "I’m not at all unhappy with God over this. My mother was diagnosed with macular degeneration when she was 90 … and my doctor says it’s hereditary. I’m thankful for all the years that I have been able to play the organ, and I’m especially grateful that I have a good memory, because that’s what I rely on to play the music."

Since her retirement last Christmas, her major focus has been on working on projects she and husband Carl Crosier never had time for. Until he retired in 2011, Carl was the church’s cantor and choir conductor, making classical masterpieces part of the music program’s repertoire for 38 years.

They will present two Bach Chamber Choir concerts for the community Aug. 18 and 25, featuring the Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes, aka Leipzig Chorales.

"My music is very comforting to me — especially the music of Bach and especially the Great Eighteen Chorales," she said. "Only a few of the chorales are brilliant; many others are very introspective and soulful."

Mark Wong succeeded Crosier as organist of the Lutheran Church in April.

CROSIER said she doesn’t feel like she is retired because she’s still teaching the organ, playing for daily chapel services at ‘Iolani School and working as parish administrator for St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Kalihi.

She said she has missed collaborating with her husband since his retirement in 2011. Carl Crosier, who is also a pianist, organist and harpsichordist, was always trying new things and would give her suggestions for the organ.

"He’s been one of my greatest teachers. We bounce ideas back and forth off each other. He has very strong musical instincts and can bring people along, share the spark on how you make music. He taught me musical interpretation.

"We’re a team. … We are definitely on the same musical page."