Conference Schedule

The following outline is tentative and subject to change as workshops and spaces are scheduled. Items in green typeface indicate joint offerings with the Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) community. Items in red typeface indicate conference Bach choir rehearsals. In addition to four 45-minute workshop sessions, four 90-minute in-depth learning sessions are provided on various topics with the aim of providing a deeper dive into honing skills and knowledge for serving and leading the church’s song. Plenary (conference-wide) sessions will focus on practical skills as well as a number of choral reading sessions. The fourth and final plenary session on Thursday will be a time to debrief, share with one another about what you are pondering anew, and to suggest possibilities for future conferences.

Exhibit Hours

Exhibits are located in the Harre Union ballroom (second floor), which also serves as the primary meeting place.

Sunday, July 21, 2024
6:00pm–9:00pm
Monday, July 22, 2024
8:00am–3:00pm
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
1:00–6:00pm
7:00–10:00pm
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
1:00–4:00pm

Daily Schedules

SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024

6:00–9:00 p.m. Registration and Exhibits Open (President’s Foyer and Harre Union Ballrooms)
6:00–10:00 p.m. Dorm Check-in (Beacon Hall)

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast [Harre Union Founders Table, included with dorm stay, others may purchase for $8.50 +tax]
8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Registration Open [Outside Harre Union Ballrooms]
8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Exhibits Open [Harre Union Ballrooms]
8:30–8:50 a.m. Morning Prayer (Chapel of the Resurrection) with the LSM community
9:30–10:00 a.m. Welcome, Orientation, Gathering Song [Harre Union Ballrooms]
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Dorm Check-in (Beacon Hall)
10:00–10:45 a.m. Choristers Guild Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
10:00–10:45 a.m. Peek Inside the LSM Worship “Laboratory” – LSM Worship Staff [Helge Multipurpose Room]
11:00–11:45 a.m. WORKSHOP SESSION I (Various Locations)

Leading Paperless Music in Worship – Ana Hernández [Victory Bell]
Understanding Copyrights – Mark Lawson [Heritage]
Using Percussion in Worship – David Eyler [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts] – runs from 11:10-11:55
To Infinity and Beyond: Soaring through Retirement – Todd Carrico [Alumni]
Cantatas in Context – Michael Costello [Brown and Gold]
Meaningful Music: Selecting Classical Piano Repertoire for Worship – Nicole Lee [Harre Union Ballrooms]

11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Lunch [Harre Union Founders Table, included]
Noon–12:45 p.m. Worship Leader Rehearsal for Gathering Eucharist (Chapel of the Resurrection)
1:00–1:45 p.m. Hope Publishing Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
1:15–1:45 p.m. St. John Passion Chorus Rehearsal [Helge Rehearsal Room], ALCM Bach Choir Participants only
2:00–3:30 p.m. IN-DEPTH LEARNING SESSION I (Various Locations)

Sound Forth God’s Praise! Playing Practicum for Organists, part 1 – Stacie Lightner [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts]
Composing for the Church, part 1 – Anne Krentz Organ [Alumni]
Crossings: The Journey of the St. John Passion – Chad Fothergill [Suite 200]
Tune Up for Church Musicians, part 1 – Craig Mueller [Harre Union Ballrooms]
We Worship with Our Eyes Too: Liturgical/Visual Arts in the Church, part 1 – David VanderMeer [Brown and Gold]
Rewarding Rehearsals: Meaningful Enrichment for Children’s Choir Directors, part 1 – Ruth Sall [Helge Rehearsal Room] – runs from 2:15-3:30

4:00–6:00 p.m. Dorm Check-in (Beacon Hall)
4:00–5:15 p.m. Gathering Eucharist (Chapel of the Resurrection)
5:00–6:30 p.m. Registration Open [Outside Harre Union Ballrooms]
5:00–6:30 p.m. Dorm Check-in (Beacon Hall)
5:15–6:45 p.m. Dinner [Harre Union Founders Table, included]
6:30–7:15 p.m. St. John Passion Orchestra and Chorus Rehearsal [VUCA 1518] – ALCM Bach Choir Participants only
7:30 p.m. LSM Faculty-Fellow Recital (Chapel of the Resurrection) followed by Evening Prayer – free and open to the public

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast [Harre Union Founders Table, included with dorm stay, others may purchase for $8.50 +tax]
8:00 a.m.–Noon Registration Open [Outside Harre Union Ballrooms]
8:30–8:50 a.m. Morning Prayer (Chapel of the Resurrection) with the LSM community
9:00–9:45 a.m. WORKSHOP SESSION II (Various Locations)

Leading Paperless Music in Worship – Ana Hernández [Alumni]
Understanding Copyrights – Mark Lawson [Brown and Gold]
Using Percussion in Worship – David Eyler [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts]
To Infinity and Beyond: Soaring through Retirement – Todd Carrico [Victory Bell]
Cantatas in Context – Michael Costello [Suite 200]
Meaningful Music: Selecting Classical Piano Repertoire for Worship – Nicole Lee [Harre Union Ballrooms]

10:00–10:45 a.m. MorningStar Music Publishers Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
10:00–10:45 a.m. Peek Inside the LSM Worship “Laboratory” – LSM Worship Staff [Helge Multipurpose Room]
11:00–noon PLENARY St. John Passion Chorales – [Harre Union Ballrooms]

Christopher Cock, Artistic Director of the Bach Collegium Valparaiso, provides insight into the placement of chorales in the St. John Passion and prepares conference attendees to sing them in preparation for the conference-wide concert on Wednesday evening.

Noon–1:00 p.m. Lunch [Harre Union Founders Table, included]
1:00–6:00 p.m. Exhibits Open [Harre Union Ballrooms]
1:00-1:45 p.m. GIA Publishers Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
2:00–3:30 p.m. IN-DEPTH LEARNING SESSION II (Various Locations)

Sound Forth God’s Praise: Service Playing Practicum for Organists, part 2 – Stacie Lightner [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts]
Composing for the Church, part 2 – Anne Krentz Organ [Alumni]
Crossings: The Journey of the St. John Passion – Chad Fothergill [Brown and Gold]
Tune Up for Church Musicians, part 2 – Craig Mueller [Harre Union Ballrooms]
We Worship with Our Eyes Too: Liturgical/Visual Arts in the Church, part 2 – David VanderMeer [Helge Multipurpose Room]
Rewarding Rehearsals: Meaningful Enrichment for Children’s Choir Directors, part 2 – Ruth Sall [Helge Rehearsal Room]

3:30–3:45 p.m. Coffee break [Harre Union Ballrooms]
3:45–4:30 p.m. Concordia Publishing House Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
4:30–5:15 p.m. Augsburg Fortress Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
5:15–6:30 p.m. Dinner (on your own)
6:30–7:00 p.m. Informal chat with Christopher Cock (Chapel of the Resurrection)
7:00–10:00 p.m. St. John Passion Dress Rehearsal (Chapel of the Resurrection), ALCM Bach Choir Participants for first 45 minutes
7:00–10:00 p.m. Exhibits Open [Harre Union Ballrooms]
7:00–10:00 p.m. Social Time with Cash Bar sponsored by Augsburg Fortress [Harre Union Ballrooms]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast [Harre Union Founders Table, included with dorm stay, others may purchase for $8.50 +tax]
7:00–8:30 a.m. Registration Open [Harre Union Ballrooms]
8:30–8:50 a.m. Morning Prayer with St. John Passion Chorales (Chapel of the Resurrection) with the LSM community
9:00–10:30 a.m. IN-DEPTH LEARNING SESSION III (Various Locations)

Lutheran Worship in a New Key, part 1 – Chris Clay [Alumni]
Glad Praises We Sing: Service Playing Practicum for Pianists, part 1 – Stacie Lightner [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts]
Creative Use of Handbells/Handchimes in Worship – David VanderMeer [Helge Rehearsal Room]
Empowering Your Musicians and Gesture: A Supporting Role, part 1 – Shannon Gravelle [Harre Union Ballrooms]
Tune Up for Presiders and Preachers, part 1 – Craig Mueller [Brown and Gold]

10:45–11:30 a.m. Fred Bock Publishing Company Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
11:00–12:30 p.m. St. John Passion Orchestra and Chorus Rehearsal (Chapel of the Resurrection), ALCM Bach Choir Participants present
11:30–noon PLENARY “Choir Participation: if and why it makes our hearts feel squishy and twinkly” – [Harre Union Ballrooms]

LSM choir director Dr. Shannon Gravelle and LSM student Naomi Tracy-Hegg will present on their findings from a choir survey they conducted last summer. Their study asks the question, “what brings people joy?” and explores the factors that lead to a moving choral experience.

Noon–1:15 p.m. Lunch [Harre Union Founders Table, included]
1:00–4:00 p.m. Exhibits Open [Harre Union Ballrooms]
1:15–2:00 p.m. WORKSHOP SESSION III (Various Locations)

This Far by Faith at 25 – Barry Bobb and John Nunes [Harre Union Ballrooms]
The Role of the Choir: Then, Now and Future – Alexa Doebele [Brown and Gold]
Raising Our Voices: Nurturing Children to Fully Participate in the Worshiping Community – Ruth Sall [Suite 200]
Seen and Unseen: The Visual Arts in Worship – Linda Witte Henke and Sara Nordling [Alumni]
Nurturing the Congregation’s Voice from the Organ Bench: Tips, Tricks, and Your Stories – Julie Grindle [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts]
Musings about MuseScore – Joel Stoppenhagen [Helge Multipurpose Room]

2:15–3:00 p.m. Northwestern Publishing House Reading Session [Harre Union Ballrooms]
3:00–4:00 p.m. Coffee Break [Harre Union Ballrooms] LAST CHANCE FOR EXHIBITS
4:00–4:45 p.m. WORKSHOP SESSION IV (Various Locations), repeat of WORKSHOP SESSION III

This Far by Faith at 25 – Barry Bobb and John Nunes [Harre Union Ballrooms]
The Role of the Choir: Then, Now and Future – Alexa Doebele [Suite 200]
Raising Our Voices: Nurturing Children to Fully Participate in the Worshiping Community – Ruth Sall [Brown and Gold]
Seen and Unseen: The Visual Arts in Worship – Linda Witte Henke and Sara Nordling [Alumni]
Nurturing the Congregation’s Voice from the Organ Bench: Tips, Tricks, and Your Stories – Julie Grindle [Bauer – in VU Center for the Arts]
Musings about MuseScore – Joel Stoppenhagen [Helge Rehearsal Room]

4:45–7:00 p.m. Dinner (on your own)
5:00–6:00 p.m. Worship Leader Rehearsal for Closing Eucharist (Chapel of the Resurrection)
5:00–7:00 p.m. Dorm Check-out (Beacon Hall)
7:30–9:30 p.m. St. John Passion (Chapel of the Resurrection) – free and open to the public

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast [Harre Union Founders Table, included with dorm stay, others may purchase for $8.50 +tax]
7:00–9:00 a.m. Dorm Check-out (Beacon Hall)
8:30–8:50 a.m. Morning Prayer (Chapel of the Resurrection) with the LSM community
9:00–10:30 a.m. IN-DEPTH LEARNING SESSION IV (Various Locations)

Lutheran Worship in a New Key, part 2 – Chris Clay [Brown and Gold]
Glad Praises We Sing: Service Playing Practicum for Pianists, part 2 – Stacie Lightner [Helge Rehearsal Room]
Creative Use of Handbells/Handchimes in Worship – David VanderMeer [Undercroft – Basement of Chapel of the Resurrection]
Empowering Your Musicians and Gesture: A Supporting Role, part 2 – Shannon Gravelle [Harre Union Ballrooms]
Tune Up for Presiders and Preachers, part 2 – Craig Mueller [Alumni]

11:00–12:15 p.m. Sending Eucharist with Farewell and Godspeed (Chapel of the Resurrection)
12:15–1:15 p.m. Informal Lunch Conversations with Conference Planners and Presenters [Harre Union Founders Table, not included, cost – $10.75 +tax]
12:30–2:30 p.m.Dorm Check-out (Beacon Hall)