President
Rev. Nancy M. Raabe is pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Nancy studied music at Pomona College (CA), and theology at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (OH) and Wartburg Theological Seminary (IA). Prior to her current call, she served as pastor for congregations in Beloit and Marshall, Wisconsin, and as music minister (keyboard, choir, and handbells) at congregations in Wisconsin and Ohio. Nancy is the founding editor of ALCM’s In Tempo. Nancy has written a series of piano arrangements of hymn tunes, along with a number of organ, choral, and liturgical settings. She published a critical biography of Carl Schalk and three volumes of One-Minute Devotions for Church Musicians. Nancy has been the Reformation Day preacher for the Bach Cantata Vespers (Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, IL), a featured speaker at the Lectures in Church Music (Concordia University Chicago), and a presenter and featured composer at the Institute of Liturgical Studies (Valparaiso University). For more details, see NancyRaabe.com.
Past President
Kevin Barger has served as the Director of Music Ministry at Epiphany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia since 1997. At Epiphany, he has responsibility for serving as the church’s organist as well as leading adult and children’s vocal choirs, adult handbells, brass and wind/string ensembles as well as youth music activities. In addition to his work at Epiphany, Kevin serves as the assistant accompanist for the Richmond Symphony Chorus as well as singing tenor with the group. Kevin serves on the worship committee for the Virginia Synod (ELCA), and he has served as an instructor for the Synod’s Power in the Spirit on several occasions. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Thiel College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He enjoys running and spending time with his wife and three children and engaging them in the work of the church.
Secretary/Treasurer
Michael Krentz, a Deacon in the ELCA, serves as Director of Music/Organist at Christ Lutheran Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He received Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Music degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Dr. Krentz is currently convener of the Worship Team of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA, and has served in the leadership of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, including as chairperson of ALCM’s 1997 national conference, president of Region 1, and national Secretary/Treasurer.
Director
Jeremy J. Bankson serves as the Director of Music at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Dublin, Ohio where he leads a dynamic and developing music ministry that includes several choirs and the Concerts at Prince of Peace Series. Past positions have included serving as the Associate Minister of Music at First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, the organ instructor at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, the Associate Director of Music at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana and as the Director of Music at St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. Active as a composer and arranger, he has led workshops, clinics, and hymn festivals for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, the American Guild of Organists, Augsburg Fortress and other churches and institutions around the country. His compositions can be found in the catalogs of MorningStar Music Publishers, Augsburg Fortress Press and Concordia Publishing House and have been heard on the nationally syndicated radio programs Sing for Joy, The Lutheran Hour, and With Heart and Voice.
Director
Dr. Jean Boehler is the Cantor of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx, NY. In addition to her organ, choral, and instrumental duties at this vibrant urban church, Jean is the founder and director of Arts in Mission-NY, a music outreach for young families with babies and toddlers. Jean is grateful to teach music to all ages… from peek-a-boo songs with babies, to middle school Orff ensembles, to high school and college choirs, to a community senior citizen handchime ensemble. She regularly leads music at conferences and retreats. Dr. Boehler is an active member of ALCM, having served as a workshop presenter, planner for a Region 1 Conference, and CrossAccent Music Reviewer and Editor. In addition to her DMA in organ, she is certified in Kodaly, Orff, Dalcroze, and Musikgarten.
Director
Carol Churchill Born and raised in the home of a church organist in Fairbanks, Alaska, music was as much a part of Carol’s formative years as was snow on the ground. Excellent early instruction and encouragement prepared her for a vocation as a church organist. Carol was fortunate to study organ during high school with Dr. James Johnson (University of Alaska) and later studied with Mary Helen Thompson (Pacific Lutheran University), Katie Adelman, and Norma Aamodt-Nelson. In 2006, Carol was conference registrar for the regional conference, and in 2011 she served on the local arrangements committee for the biennial conference – both in Seattle. With guidance from Jim Rindelaub and Arletta Anderson, Carol secured a grant from Seattle AGO completing the full endowment of the ALCM Norma Aamodt-Nelson Student Scholar Fund. This work has provided Carol keen awareness of the extraordinary leadership that has and continues to serve our organization. Since 1992, Carol has served Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church as shared-time organist. Prior to that she was privileged to serve 10 years with Katie Adelman at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bellevue, WA. Some of Carol’s ALCM colleagues also know of her work with the largest seaplane company in the U.S., Kenmore Air, where she is always ready to share the quintessential Pacific Northwest experience. Carol and Mark have three children and seven grandchildren.
Director
Tony Cruz has served as Cantor for St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL since 2006. In addition to serving as the organist, he accompanies and directs the vocal choirs and directs the handbell choir. Tony has a BA in Music from Jacksonville University and an MA in Church Music from Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus, OH). He is an active member of the local chapter of the American Guild of Organists and performs regularly (as a singer) with RareSong, an early music ensemble.
Director
Karen Foote is Music Director and Organist at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Munster, Indiana. She directs and teaches music classes of all ages in the church and school settings. Her role as worship planner includes all regular and special services of the congregation. She also directs most of the varied choral and instrumental ensembles. Karen has spent her career in music and elementary education in New York, Michigan, and Indiana children’s choral programs and music curricula.
Director
Jim Hild retired January 1, 2018 from his position at All Saints Lutheran church after 28 years. During that time he was the organist, choir director for all the vocal, brass and handbell choirs, and coordinated all the worship services. Jim holds degrees from the University of Jamestown (ND) and the University of Minnesota. His organ teachers include Dr. Dean Billmeyer, Dr. Kathy Hanford and Harald Vogel (sabbatical study). Principal choral teachers have been Dr. Thomas Lancaster, Kathy Romey, and Helmuth Rilling. Jim has served ALCM as chair of the 2007 National conference in Houston. He has also served on the Twin Cities American Guild of Organists board of directors. He currently is a section leader in the Minnesota Chorale, and has previously occupied the same position with the National Lutheran choir.
Director
Tom Mueller is Assistant Professor of Church Music and University Organist at Concordia University in Irvine, California, where he teaches organ, jazz, and composition. Dr. Mueller maintains an active performance schedule and has performed throughout the United States and in Europe. A committed educator for musicians of all skill levels and backgrounds, he has presented numerous workshops, masterclasses, and lectures, and has served as a faculty member for the American Guild of Organist’s Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) program. He currently serves on the national Committee for Continuing Professional Education (CCPE) of the AGO. Mueller earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music as a student of David Higgs. He currently resides in Orange County with his wife Kristina and their two children.
Director
Valerie Stone is the music director at First Presbyterian Church of Big Flats, NY. She directs and accompanies their adult choir and handbell group. Prior to moving to New York in 2019, she spent the past 40 years filling various musical roles at churches in Central Ohio and Northeast Ohio. Valerie studied organ and piano at Capital University and has a Master of Arts in Church Music from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. In addition to serving as a church musician for many years, Valerie has played saxophone and oboe in several community bands and alto recorder with the early music group, Lacus Venti.
Director
David Werth serves as the Director of Traditional Worship at First Trinity Lutheran Church in Buffalo, New York where he leads a music ministry that includes multigenerational participation in choirs and instrumental ensembles. In 2021, he founded a music conservatory there including, currently, four teachers (organ, piano, voice and cello) and 60 students. David also directs the Valparaiso University Guild Candlelight Christmas Vesper (now in its 66th year) at First Trinity. Additionally, David serves as participant and vice president of the Lutheran Chorale of the Niagara Frontier and treasurer of Buffalo New York’s premier chamber choir, Harmonia.
David recently served as treasurer for the 2019 AGO Northeast Regional Convention in Buffalo, New York. He has contributed to the ALCM’s “Grace Notes” and has served as author for the “Creative Worship” series published by Concordia Publishing House. David has coordinated numerous hymn festivals, worship and music workshops in Western New York that have included David Cherwien, Mark Sedio, Robert Hobby, Gerald Coleman, John Behnke, Kevin Hildebrand, Scott Hyslop, Paul Soulek, and in 2022, Jacob Weber. David has participated in national worship conferences at Concordia University Chicago, Concordia University Nebraska, and St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. Additionally, David and his wife have commissioned numerous choral, organ, and handbell works.
David has degrees in accounting and law and is a tax partner at Tronconi Segarra & Associates, one of Western New York’s largest public accounting and professional services firms.