Henry moves from Pennsylvania to California

Henry performs at the 5th Annual Recycled Art and Fashion Show at the Monte De Oro Winery, Temecula, California (May 13).

June, 2016: Accordionist and organist Henry Doktorski relocated to California after 22 wonderful years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in order to explore career possibilities in the Golden State and to be closer to his parents, who recently moved from New Jersey to Temecula. By coincidence, he arrived on his 60th birthday: January 30, 2016.

In the last four months since arriving in California, Henry has:

• competed in seven tournaments at the Temecula Chess Club,

• taught Chess4Kids classes at the Van Avery Prep School under the auspices of the Temecula Chess Club,

• performed on accordion at the 5th Annual Recycled Art and Fashion show held at the Monte De Oro Winery, and at other less-formal events,

• performed on organ in a recital sponsored by the American Guild of Organists’ Palomar Chapter at the Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe,

• performed on organ in a recital sponsored by the AGO Orange County Chapter at the Laguna Presbyterian Church in Laguna Beach,

• performed as a substitute organist at the First Church of Christ, Scientist at Carlsbad-Vista, and

• performed as a substitute organist/pianist at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in the city of Orange.

• In addition, the Dean of the Palomar Chapter invited him to serve on the Chapter Board as Member-At-Large.

Henry said, “Moving to California has been an exciting adventure for me with joys and challenges all the way, but circumstances at the time (January 2016) seemed to be giving me an unrelenting push to take this next career and life change. I miss Pittsburgh and all my friends there, but we still keep in touch and I hope to visit again. In the meantime, I've been taking the bull by the horns. I am pleased to note that my skills as an organist are appreciated, as I am booked every Sunday from June until October as a substitute organist. Eventually, I am sure, I will find a position as organist or music director for a southern California church. I am also exploring venues for performing on accordion, and possiblities for teaching Chess4Kids. In addition, I have recently completed my first book about the Hare Krishna movement, a well-documented nonfiction history tentatively titled Eleven Naked Emperors: Hijacking the Hare Krishna Movement From Within (1977-1987), and have begun sending inquiry letters to book publishers. All in all, I am optimistic about this significant life-changing adventure: moving from Pennsylvania to California.”

At the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at Carlsbad-Vista (April 3).

At Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in the city of Orange (May 22).

At the Laguna Presbyterian Church, Laguna Beach, during rehearsal (May 5).

Distinguished soloists at the AGO Orange County Members’ Recital at Laguna Presbyterian Church, Laguna Beach: David Lines, Charles Raasch, Lois Holdridge, Frances Johnston, Henry Doktorski (May 14). This photograph appeared in the November 2016 issue of The American Organist: the Officical Journal of the American Guild of Organists (p. 87), as well as the Summer 2016 issue of The Clarion: the Newsletter for the American Guild of Organists Orange County Chapter (Volume 66, Number 13, page 5).