Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

December 1, 2024 e-newsletter

Join Us in Raleigh-Durham in 2025!

We hope you’ll join us in August of 2025 for a week of learning, singing, and fellowship. The conference theme is For all that is to be. This conference is designed for YOU, no matter what stage of life or career you may find yourself. There is something here for YOU!

In North Carolina the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are known as the Triangle (not to be confused with the Triad, which is Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point). The Triangle is home to many fine learning institutions, including Duke University in Durham.

We’ll be visiting Duke more than once, so there will be ample opportunity to explore the famous Duke Chapel and the surrounding campus grounds. We will also experience a hymn festival at the beautiful Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh. The Triangle is home to the one and only Raleigh Ringers, who you’ll hear in a special concert. And this conference provides the unique opportunity not only to hear but sing alongside AND learn from VOCES8. Workshops, reading sessions, and ample time for visiting and building connections will round out our conference. You’ll have opportunities to meet musicians from around the country and form lasting friendships.

You can stay a day longer and attend one of the exciting post-conference seminars on Friday, August 8^th. You might also plan a few days on either side of the conference to see the sights. The Triangle is halfway between the mountains and the ocean, so whether you’re a mountain person or a beach person, you’ll find things to do! Museums, music and entertainment venues, dining, and more! You’ll be glad you took the time to explore what North Carolina has to offer!

We hope to see you in 9 short months!

John Jahr

Conference Planning Team

Commposers Symposium

ALCM is excited to offer a symposium, Where do we go from here?, to stimulate conversation among composers regarding our efforts to be faithful, creative, and nurturing stewards of the church’s song – even where gatherings have limited human and material resources. Registrants will also have the opportunity to explore newer music software. For a more detailed look, visit the Symposium website. More information is added regularly, so be sure to check back often.

ALCM is especially grateful to the hosts for this symposium, Bob Hobby and Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. Generous donations from the Fred Jackisch Memorial Fund as well as from Trinity English Lutheran have helped to maximize the benefits of attendance while minimizing costs to registrants.

Registration rates go up after January 14th. Those who register for both the 2025 Symposium and Raleigh-Durham Conference will receive a $70 dollar refund at the close of the conference.

Call for manuscripts

500 Years of Lutheran Hymnals

CrossAccent Vol. 33, No. 1 (Spring 2025)

Manuscript deadline: January 15, 2025

National Lutheran Choir 2025 Choral Tune-Up

February 1, 2025

The National Lutheran Choir is hosting an educational workshop with clinicians Dr. André Thomas and Dr. Brandon Boyd on February 1, 2025.

The event is open to church choirs, youth (grades 7-12), choir directors, and choral music educators. New this year, the event will include a Friday evening conducting master class, interest session, and reading session exploring the rich traditions of Black sacred music and the music of Black culture through community singing. 

Participants will also have the opportunity to sing with the National Lutheran Choir and members of area choirs in a Festival Chorus along with the University of Minnesota Gospel Choir under the direction of Dr. Adrian Davis in a free concert that will be open to the public. 

Registration and additional information is available at www.nlca.com/tuneup. 

The deadline to register is Friday, January 17, 2025.

2025 Norma Aamodt-Nelson

Student Scholar Award

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Norma Aamodt-Nelson Student Scholar Award. Students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program are encouraged to apply.

This award was established in 2021 to honor the legacy of Norma, a practicing church musician and instrumental acquisitions editor for Augsburg Fortress from 1993 until her death in 2020. The award is designed to encourage collegiate students as they prepare for a vocation in church music. In addition to completing the scholarship application, applicants are required to submit a video audition. The award winner will receive a full scholarship for the 2025 ALCM biennial conference in Raleigh-Durham, which includes conference registration, hotel housing, transportation, conference meals, a one-year membership in ALCM, and a cash prize of $500. The award winner may also be invited to play a piece at the 2025 ALCM biennial conference. The application deadline is February 15, 2025.

Lutheran World Federation Global Songbook

The Global Songbook Version 1.0 was presented to the Lutheran World Federation member churches of Central Western Europe in Wittenberg on 29 June 2024. A selection of 80 songs will now be tested through events in all LWF membership regions from reformation day 2024 till Easter 2025. Request access to this song selection and join our Global Lutheran Songbook Community at https://www.globalsongbook2024.net/.

Theodore Beck Compositions for Free Download

The family of Theodore Beck, prolific Lutheran composer who taught at Concordia University Nebraska for nearly 50 years, has archived a large number of his compositions at https://www.beck-music.com/download.html.

The compositions on this website are free for you to download and use. Permission is granted by the children of Theodore Beck, who own the copyrights to the items on this website. Many of the items originally were sold by publishing companies, but now the copyrights have been turned back to the family. 

Purchase the Fall Webinar Recordings

All three of the Fall 2024 webinars have been recorded and are available for purchase. Make your purchase by December 31 to receive all three webinars for $25 for members, $39 for non-members. After December 31, the webinars will only be available for purchase individually at the regular single-webinar price: $25 for members, $39 for non-members. Buy now and get all three--it's like getting two for free!

Kyries & Glorias

Kyries (prayer concerns) and Glorias (thanksgivings) are posted in the members area and on this page on the ALCM website. Kyries and Glorias for the following people have been recently posted:

Kyrie

Mark & Kathy Helge

Bob & Lois Rimbo

Bob Hobby*

Jenny Hobby

John Ferguson*

Gloria

Joan Fancher-Miller

Clayton Faulkner

In memoriam

Nancy Jane Fouse (mother of Kevin Barger)

Vivian Rindelaub (mother of Jim Rindelaub)

Darrell Grant Haugen (father of Kyle Haugen)

Walter Thomas Cherwien (father of David Cherwien)

ALCM members are invited to submit Kyries and Glorias following the link in the members area of the website. Non-members may contact the ALCM office at office@alcm.org with information for posting.

* indicates a Charter Member

2024 LSM Musical Advent Calendar

Experience the anticipation and hope of the Advent season with Lutheran Summer Music's fourth annual Musical Advent Calendar. From December 1-24, immerse yourself in a daily moment of music and reflection shared on our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages and archived on our website at LSMacademy.org/acal. 

To have these daily videos delivered straight to your inbox, sign up at forms.gle/6Jw7DoDApTAgW4Uf6.

Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM

Friday, December 27 - 6:00 pm Eastern

Recognizing that virtual community IS real community, you are warmly invited to join "Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM" on Zoom every fourth Friday. Moderated by President Nancy Raabe and Executive Director Jim Rindelaub, discussion will be oriented around a general theme each month, but the larger purpose is to encourage conversation, sharing, and community. Bring whatever thoughts, comments, or concerns are on your mind, and of course a libation of your choice. Click on this recurring link to join each month.

Your event will appear on the main event calendar, on the main page of the website, and in the e-newsletter for the month in which the event will take place. Good advertising - and it's free to ALCM members!

View the complete ALCM calendar.

(Note: The first 25 people logged into the webinar on Friday will attend live. All registrants will receive the webinar recording within 24 hours.)

Hymn Resources

As part of your Advent worship planning, be sure to check your hymn selections against the list of Hymn Settings in the members area of the ALCM website. (See the link under the "Quick Links" heading.) There are hundreds of hymn settings to support congregational singing.

Here are two settings of the hymn "Hark the Glad Sound!" set to the tune CHESTERFIELD: a brass setting by Jean Boehler, and a setting for organ and with soloed melody by Paul Otte.

CHESTERFIELD – Boehler instrumental parts

CHESTERFIELD – Otte harmonization

As an added bonus (and for something a bit different), check out Larry Finke's choral hymn intros to "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry" and "Savior of the Nations, Come."

There are many resources in the members area. If you haven't looked for a while, log in and do some exploring!

Having difficulty logging in to the members area? First check to be sure that you are using the email address that we have on file (the address at which you receive the e-newsletter). Click on the "Forgot your password?" link in the login box and follow the instructions to reset your password. If you still have difficulty logging in, send an email to office@alcm.org and we'll be happy to help.

The Raabe Prize at 25!

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition. Endowed in 1999 by Dr. William and Pr. Nancy Raabe of Philadelphia, this prize is awarded every two years for a single musical work that reflects a larger history of excellence on the part of a composer. Its aim is to recognize and encourage significant accomplishments in composition contributing to the body of sacred music for the church in the Lutheran heritage. Throughout 2024, ALCM is highlighting each prizewinner with a video describing the piece, its significance and, where possible, featuring a conversation with the composer.

You can view previous interviews on the Prize Winners page on the ALCM website. Watch for new interviews in the coming months!

Embark on an unforgettable European adventure enriched by a captivating blend of history and natural beauty from Poland to Tallinn, Estonia. Begin your travels in Warsaw, then proceed through the Polish countryside to Zakopane, nestled at the base of the Tatra Mountains. Explore Krakow’s rich history, including visits to Wawel Cathedral and Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. Journey onward to charming Tallinn, Estonia, where you’ll celebrate the 28th Estonian Song and Dance Festival. The Song Celebration tradition began in 1869 as a way for Estonians to meet, share their national spirit, and celebrate their unity in times of oppression. Hear tens of thousands of voices lifted in song and see the performers colorful regional costumes. Reserved seats are included for the final day of the festival. 

Additional information.

Register for the event.

The Sing Democracy 250-50 States Program is a non-partisan, nationwide chorus of hope, a movement of resilience, and a celebration of America’s 250th birthday!

We’ve commissioned two new pieces of choral music, one by Brandon Boyd and the other by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, that connect Americans to our history and our promise of democracy.

We are inviting choirs in all 50 states to perform this program in 2026, to engage singers and citizens with a powerful message of hope for democracy through music that represents American history honestly, reflects America’s diversity, and calls all Americans to fulfill their obligations to America... to build together that more perfect union!

To learn more and participate visit https://www.singdemocracy250.org/.

Are you getting the most out of your ALCM membership?

Did you know that new member benefits are being added all the time to the members area of the ALCM website? You will want to log in whenever you visit the site to be sure that you have access to everything available to members. Can't remember your login information? In almost every case, your username is your email address. You can change or reset your password by following the "Forgot your password?" link in the login box.

Items in the members area are available for unlimited use as long as your membership remains active. Here are a few items for members only:

• All issues of CrossAccent (from the very beginning) and In Tempo are available for viewing. These items are for sale in the Marketplace to non-members;
• Advertise your local events on ALCM's calendar;
• Listen to all ALCM CD recordings for free;
• Hymns, accompaniments, descants, concertatos, and hymn stanza alternations for choir;
• Other free downloadable seasonal and non-seasonal resources;
• Discounted registration fee for ALCM-sponsored webinars and conferences;
• Past issues of ALCM's original practical resource, Grace Notes, from 1997-2011;
• Discounts on purchases of CDs and other items in the Marketplace; and
• A host of other resources free for viewing and downloading.

If you have any difficulty logging in or if you have questions or comments about the website or your membership, please feel free to contact us by email at office@alcm.org.