Hewitt Vinnedge Johnston (July 6, 1939–January 13, 2025)
After many years in the ministry, Hewitt Vinnedge Johnston came to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Gladstone, New Jersey in 1997 to serve as Interim Rector as the parish conducted…
The Maestro’s Blog
Violins of Hope: A Profound Musical Journey
I wish that everyone I know in New Jersey and in New York City could have attended the lecture and performance that my wife Marcia and I were present for…
Have You Seen This Man?
Of course, you have! On the left, you have me with Santa Claus in 1952, with my older brother Howard as my backup, making sure that Santa got my list…
One Good Encore Deserves Another … The Opening Chord
November 2024 (Revised from the blog post The Opening Chord of June 2011) I’ve been writing posts for this blog for over fourteen years. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually…
Halloween Candy Encore
In the color photo on the left are choristers George Marriner Maull and his older brother, Frederick Howard Maull, on a June Sunday morning in 1960. They’re standing in the…
On a Personal Note …The Legend of the Pink Squirrel
At a recent meeting of The Discovery Orchestra’s staff, there was a discussion about serving a signature cocktail at an upcoming event. The performers – and the cocktails – were…
Marvelous job, Maestro, as always! Thank you for doing such a splendid, insightful and careful deep-dive into the art and craftsmanship that Tchaikovsky, after much effort, put into creating this work. There really is no greater portrayal of young love in music than his Romeo and Juliet, and your thoughtfulness demonstrates it so admirably.