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 (Harre Union)
6:00–9:00 p.m. Dorm Check-in (Beacon Hall)

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast (Harre Union, included with dorm stay)
8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Registration Open (In front of 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, Skill Shares (Harre Union Ballrooms)
10:00–10:45 a.m. Publisher Reading Session (Harre Union Ballrooms)
10:00–10:45 a.m. Peek Inside the LSM Worship “Laboratory” – LSM Worship Staff [Room TBD]
11:00–11:45 a.m. WORKSHOP SESSION I (Various Locations)

This Far by Faith at 25 – Barry Bobb and John Nunes [Room TBD]
Raising Our Voices: Nurturing Children to Fully Participate in the Worshiping Community – Ruth Sall [Room TBD]
Using Percussion in Worship – David Eyler [Room TBD]
To Infinity and Beyond: Soaring through Retirement – Todd Carrico [Room TBD]
Cantatas in Context – Michael Costello [Room TBD]
Meaningful Music: Selecting Classical Piano Repertoire for Worship – Nicole Lee [Room TBD]

11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Lunch (included)
1:00–1:45 p.m. Publisher 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)

Glad Praises We Sing: Service Playing Practicum for Pianists, part 1 – Stacie Lightner [Room TBD]
Composing for the Church, part 1– Anne Krentz Organ [Room TBD]
Crossings: The Journey of the St. John Passion, part 1 – Chad Fothergill [Room TBD]
Tune Up for Church Musicians, part 1 – Craig Mueller [Room TBD]
We Worship with Our Eyes Too: Liturgical/Visual Arts in the Church, part 1 – David VanderMeer [Room TBD]

4:00–5:15 p.m. Gathering Eucharist (Chapel of the Resurrection)
5:00–6:30 p.m. Registration Open (In front of Harre Union Ballrooms)
5:00–6:30 p.m. Dorm Check-in (Beacon Hall)
5:15–6:45 p.m. Dinner (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 Concert (Chapel of the Resurrection) followed by Evening Prayer or Compline – free and open to the public

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast (Harre Union, included with dorm stay)
8:00 a.m.–Noon Registration Open (In Front of 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)

10:00–10:45 a.m. Publisher Reading Session (Harre Union Ballrooms)
10:00–10:45 a.m. Peek Inside the LSM Worship “Laboratory” – LSM Worship Staff [Room TBD]
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 (included)
1:00–6:00 p.m. Exhibits Open (Harre Union Ballrooms)
1:00-1:45 p.m. Publisher Reading Session (Harre Union Ballrooms)
2:00–3:30 p.m. IN-DEPTH LEARNING SESSION II (Various Locations)

Glad Praises We Sing: Service Playing Practicum for Pianists, part 2 – Stacie Lightner [Room TBD]
Composing for the Church, part 2– Anne Krentz Organ [Room TBD]
Crossings: The Journey of the St. John Passion, part 2 – Chad Fothergill [Room TBD]
Tune Up for Church Musicians, part 2 – Craig Mueller [Room TBD]
We Worship with Our Eyes Too: Liturgical/Visual Arts in the Church, part 2 – David VanderMeer [Room TBD]

3:30–3:45 p.m. Coffee break (Harre Union Ballrooms)
3:45–4:30 p.m. Publisher Reading Session (Harre Union Ballrooms)
4:30–5:15 p.m. Publisher 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 sponsored by Augsburg Fortress (Harre Union Ballrooms)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2024

7:00–8:30 a.m. Breakfast (Harre Union, included with dorm stay)
7:00–8:30 a.m. Registration Open (In Front of Harre Union Ballrooms)
8:30–8:50 a.m. CONFERENCE-WIDE ST. JOHN PASSION REHEARSAL (Chapel of the Resurrection)
9:00–10:30 a.m. IN-DEPTH LEARNING SESSION III (Various Locations)

Rewarding Rehearsals: Meaningful Enrichment for Children’s Choir Directors, part 1 – Ruth Sall [Room TBD]
Lutheran Worship in a New Key, part 1 – Chris Clay [Room TBD]
Sound Forth God’s Praise! Service Playing Practicum for Organists, part 1 – Stacie Lightner [Room TBD]
Creative Use of Handbells/Handchimes in Worship – David VanderMeer [Room TBD]
Empowering Your Musicians and Gesture: A Supporting Role, part 1 – Shannon Gravelle [Room TBD]
Tune Up for Presiders and Preachers, part 1 – Craig Mueller [Room TBD]

10:45–11:30 a.m. Publisher 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 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 (included)
1:00–4:00 p.m. Exhibits Open (Harre Union Ballrooms)
1:15–2:00 p.m. WORKSHOP SESSION III (Various Locations)

The Role of the Choir: Then, Now, and Future – Alexa Doebele [Room TBD]
Understanding Copyrights – Mark Lawson [Room TBD]
Leading Paperless Music in Worship – Ana Hernández [Room TBD]
Seen and Unseen: The Visual Arts in Worship – Linda Witte Henke and Sara Nordling [Room TBD]
Nurturing the Congregation’s Voice from the Organ Bench: Tips, Tricks, and Your Stories – Julie Grindle [Room TBD]
Musings about MuseScore – Joel Stoppenhagen [Room TBD]

2:15–3:00 p.m. Publisher 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

4:45–7:00 p.m. Dinner (on your own)
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)
7:00–8:30 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)

Rewarding Rehearsals: Meaningful Enrichment for Children’s Choir Directors, part 2 – Ruth Sall [Room TBD]
Lutheran Worship in a New Key, part 2 – Chris Clay [Room TBD]
Sound Forth God’s Praise! Service Playing Practicum for Organists, part 2 – Stacie Lightner [Room TBD]
Creative Use of Handbells/Handchimes in Worship – David VanderMeer [Room TBD]
Empowering Your Musicians and Gesture: A Supporting Role, part 2 – Shannon Gravelle [Room TBD]
Tune Up for Presiders and Preachers, part 2 – Craig Mueller [Room TBD]

11:00–12:15 p.m. Closing Eucharist (Chapel of the Resurrection)
12:30–1:15 p.m. FINAL PLENARY (Harre Union Ballrooms)
1:15–1:30 p.m. Farewell and Godspeed (Harre Union Ballrooms)
1:30 p.m. Departure
1:30–2:30 p.m.Dorm Check-out (Beacon Hall)