Maplewood, MN

Making the Best of Things

Come to Lakeview Lutheran in Maplewood, MN for a day focused on making the most of what you’ve got! Church musicians will benefit from sessions led by other church musicians but will also be able to share their own best practices with one another.

Schedule

8:30a – 9:00a: Registration/Check in
9:00a – 9:30a: Morning prayer
9:30a – 10:30a: Working Creatively with Limited Resources
10:30a – 10:45a: Break
10:45a – 11:45a: What Should I Play on Sunday?: Accessible Non-hymn-based Repertoire
11:45a – 12:30p: Lunch
12:30p – 1:30p: Meet Me at the Downbeat: Conducting Basics/Review
1:30p – 1:45p: Break
1:45p – 2:45p: Fostering Lifelong Singing in Aging Adults
2:45p – 3:00p: Closing song and prayer

Workshops

Working Creatively with Limited Resources – In this workshop participants will explore making the best use of the talents and resources in their congregation. Case-studies will be presented followed by conversations about solutions to common issues.

Meet Me at the Downbeat: Conducting Basics/Review – New and seasoned conductors will appreciate returning to the fundamentals of conducting in this workshop centered on the essentials of communicating musical ideas. Participants will have the opportunity to read through some new music while also working on conducting skills.

What Should I Play on Sunday?: Accessible Non-hymn-based Repertoire – Explore lesser-known classical repertoire available on IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project), a collection of public domain music that is free for download and use.

Fostering Lifelong Singing in Aging Adults – Working with the aging voice can be rewarding and enriching for both teacher and student. Learn about strategies for helping mature singers to make a joyful (and beautiful!) noise unto the Lord.

Presenters

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 was selected as a participant in the conducting master class at the Oregon Bach Festival, where he studied with Helmuth Rilling.

Sister Stacie Lightner is the Cantor at St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church in St. Paul, where she serves as organist, directs the Chancel Choir and Wings of Grace handbell choir, and leads faith formation activities. She holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in organ and church music from the University of Kansas, and a D.Mus in organ performance from McGill University in Monteal. She also spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar studying organ at the Musikhochschule in Lübeck, Germany. She is a deacon in the ELCA and a member of the Deaconess Community.

Mark Spitzack is the organist and choir director at Lakeview Lutheran Church in Maplewood, MN. He earned bachelor’s degree in church music and Christian education at Concordia University, St. Paul and the Master of Sacred Music degree from Luther Seminary. Although he has worked as a musician and educator in predominantly Lutheran congregations, in the past several years he has served as organist/choirmaster at Anglo-Catholic and Congregational (UCC) churches.

Stephen Kingsbury is Director of Choral Activities at Southwest Minnesota State University. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Additionally, Dr. Kingsbury holds micro-credentials in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Trauma-Informed Pedagogy, Inclusive Teaching for Equitable Learning, Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment, and Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners. Dr. Kingsbury conducts the Chancel Choir at First Lutheran in Marshall, MN.