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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

February 1, 2026 e-newsletter

Dear ALCM friends,

40 years ago, Larry Christensen and his committee were preparing for an August 1986 convention at St. Olaf College, where a draft constitution was to be discussed in hopes of forming an Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. All Lutheran congregations, including my own, received a large blue trifold introducing us to an emerging “ALCM” and inviting $100 “charter investments” to help fund the effort. Like many of you, I was inspired to sacrifice lunch for a while in order to send off my charter investment. Now, 40 years later, ALCM’s education coordinator Adam Hughes and his committee are preparing for a July 2026 return to St. Olaf in celebration of our 40th anniversary. You have already helped ALCM reach anniversary goals including 440 donors making gifts in 2025, 40 Covenant Society members, and helping achieve an almost 1-million-dollar ALCM Endowment Fund (just $12,752.10 to go.) It has been a joy to serve with you as a Lutheran church musician these 40 years and I look forward to our celebration together at St. Olaf.

Please join us in July!

Jim Rindelaub

Executive Director

This summer at St. Olaf College, ALCM is celebrating 40 years of nurturing and equipping musicians to serve and lead the church's song and looking toward the next 40. Through workshops, discussions, networking, worship, and hands-on learning opportunities, registrants will consider best practices for leading the church to sing about God's consistent presence in the world Now and Forever. Standing at the crossroads of the past legacy of ALCM, the present moment, and the future of paths yet untrodden, conference-goers will have the opportunity to form connections from Generation to Generation with the students, staff, and faculty of the Lutheran Summer Music Academy. A riveting performance of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, offered by the Bach Collegium Valparaiso, Christopher M. Cock, Artistic Director, brings it all together, telling the timeless story of God's grace given freely to all from the cross, uniting people from all times and places into one body of Christ. 

The emphasis of this conference is on practical skill-building. Check out the nearly complete list of presenters and workshops on the conference website. Early-bird registration, with reduced registration rates, continues through March 17, 2026. Reasonably-priced, air-conditioned dormitory housing is still available and can be booked at time of conference registration or at a later date. Register now and make plans to envision the future of Lutheran Church music. 

Mount Calvary Academy of Music is excited to announce:  

Music of the Church with Inaugural Instructor Dr. David Cherwien! 

Private lessons with David Cherwien 

in the Minneapolis/St Paul area starting February 2026 

Private lessons offer one-on-one learning to mentor student skill in your choice of focus areas in sacred music. Inaugural options are taught by instructor Dr. David Cherwien in private lessons with curriculum specific to each purpose. Choose your option for Lesson Purpose with systematic learning! Lesson Purposes include: 

1. Congregational Song – for experienced organists 
2. Improvisation – for experienced organists 
3. Basic Organ Lessons  
4. Composing/Arranging for the church 

NOW ENROLLING SPRING TERM February - May!  

Enrollment is accepted by term. Summer Term and Fall Term lessons will also be offered. Enrollment is always open for an available spot in Dr. Cherwien’s studio, including mid-term for remaining lessons in that term.

Read more about David Cherwien and Music of the Church.

Music of the Church is only one of the many programs offered by the Academy at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, MN. Read more about this extensive arts program at www.mcaom.org.

Questions? Email mary.lechelt@mountcalvary.org.

Directory, Directory, where's the Directory?...

We’ve encountered a delay in publishing the directory, but we're hoping to have it in your hands by the end of the month.

Remember, to avoid unauthorized use/hacking, we never post the membership directory online. If you find that you've misplaced your copy or you just want an update, just let us know and we can send you the most current info as a PDF.

We have wonderful news to report as a result of our 40th anniversary fundraising campaign. In 2025, 451 individuals made a gift to ALCM, surpassing our goal of 440! We thank everyone who made a gift in 2025. If you have not yet made a 40th anniversary gift, you still have time - the celebration continues through 2027. Make your gift to Now and Forever: Endowing Our Future.

Do you have practical thoughts, suggestions, or resources that could help your fellow ALCM musicians? In Tempo is looking for additional entries for upcoming issues! The deadline to contribute to the next issue is March 15th. Questions and submissions may be directed to intempo@alcm.org. 

Abounding in Hope

Twin Cities Children’s Choir Festival 2026

Registration is still open for an ecumenical children’s choir festival on February 28, 2026, featuring rehearsals, education for employed musicians, and a hymn festival.

This Twin Cities Children’s Choir Festival is open to students of all ages from any congregation or community choir, or any child who simply loves to sing. Jennifer Cadwell will be leading the children’s choir and Paolo Debuque will lead the youth choir (middle and high school – changed voices welcome!). 

While the children and youth are rehearsing, directors will have the opportunity to attend workshops with Chris Cherwien and Phil Radtke. Sessions will focus on techniques for leading engaging and effective children’s choir rehearsals and on working with young voices. You will also have the opportunity to sit in on a choir rehearsal with Paolo and Jennifer.

Learn more about the event. Advance registration is required and closes February 5, so register now!

Help Wanted

Interested in a project to hone your Finale/Dorico and composition skills? Stephen Hedlund is looking for someone to help bring his Appalacian Mass to completion. The ordinary portions of the mass are set to American folk tunes, and Stephen is looking for someone to create melody-line/text and accompaniments for each piece. For more information, contact Stephen directly at hedlundsd@sbcglobal.net.

New Music for Easter

ALCM member Laurel Sanders has three Easter compositions that are now available on the J.W. Pepper website. She is making them available to ALCM members for free, which is permitted by J.W. Pepper. The two brass selections have been played by ensembles in Central PA with great response, and the choral piece is new. Audio & score links (from J.W. Pepper), available for all three pieces, are included below. 

Jesus Lives! Let All Earth Praise Him! (SATB choir and piano) https://tinyurl.com/2s4ybhbt 

Easter Prelude for Brass Quartet https://tinyurl.com/4yfyztzu 

Easter Offertory for Brass Quartet https://tinyurl.com/46ry8k9n 

Links to the scores for all three pieces are posted under the "What's New for Members" section on the Members Area page. The two pieces for brass are also included under their tune names in the "Hymn Settings" section.

Congratulations, Laurel, and thanks for sharing these pieces with ALCM members!

40th Anniversary Hymn Commission:

"O God, You Saw My Early Being"

In celebration of ALCM’s 40th anniversary in 2026, the ALCM board of directors commissioned Rev. Stephen Starke (text) and Robert Hobby (tune) to write a new hymn. “O God, You Saw My Early Being” is the result of that collaboration.

Permission for ALCM members to use the hymn and setting in worship has been extended to April 1, 2026. Both Concordia Publishing House (text copyright) and MorningStar Music (tune) are covered under OneLicense.net. Please remember to report hymn usage.

A note about David Cherwien's webinar, which was the first in this series...

David Cherwien's webinar was full of immediately useable suggestions for all skill levels. His webinar will be posted on the webinar page and all three webinars will be viewable at no charge. Look for the recording of David's webinar during the first week in February. Also note that there is a 15% discount and free shipping on a selection of David's keyboard and choral works! Go to the webinar page for more details.

Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM

Friday, February 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 Past-President Nancy Raabe and Executive Director Jim Rindelaub, discussion is 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.

Kyries & Glorias

Kyries (prayer concerns) and Glorias (thanksgivings) as well as In memoria are posted on the ALCM website.

Kyrie

Bob & Lois Rimbo

Mark & Kathy Helge

Bob Hobby*

Jenny Hobby

Gloria

Luke Tegtmeier Gift IMO Tim Guenther*

In memoriam

Betty Frable

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 Founding Member

Hymn Resources

February 15 is Transfiguration, and this month's hymn suggestion is POTSDAM ('Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here). Settings include a B-flat trumpet part written by Jean Boehler as well as soloed-out organ settings by Paul Otte. Settings are provided in both D-major and Eb-major.

POTSDAM (in D) - Boehler

POTSDAM (in D) – Otte harmonization

POTSDAM (in E-flat) – Boehler

POTSDAM (in E-flat) – Otte harmonization

As part of your regular 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 as well as many free downloadable 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, or if you are logged in and cannot access the members area page, send an email to office@alcm.org 

and we'll be happy to help.

The newest issue of CrossAccent was mailed last week, so you should be receiving it shortly (we hope!). The theme of the issue is "Singing Welcome: Church Music's Role in Hospitality." An electronic copy of the issue is posted in the members area of the ALCM website.

Psalm Resources

As part of a larger project to develop psalm resources for members, a page for psalm refrains has been created and is accessible in the members area of the website. Refrains are listed by psalm number and verse and contain an accompaniment, a graphic for insertion in a service folder, suggested psalm tone(s), and other supporting materials (instrumental parts, descants, etc.). Although there are only a handfull of refrains right now, this page will continue to grow as more refrains are submitted.

A few things to note:

• The psalm tone suggestions are just that--suggestions. Feel free to use other tones in your congregation's repertoire. If you use a tone that works particularly well, let us know and we'll add it to the list of suggestions.
• If you regularly (or occasionally) write your own psalm refrains and/or tones, we would love to have you share them with other members.


As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. Email us at office@alcm.org.

Nominate Young Musicians for Lutheran Summer Music

Now is the time to nominate students for LSM 2026. Enrollment for next summer is filling quickly, and we expect most remaining spots to be filled by the March 1 Standard Enrollment deadline. At LSM, students connect advanced musical study with worship and the joy of Lutheran church music traditions. We welcome musicians on all instruments—brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion, piano, organ, voice, and harp—to study with nationally recognized faculty in a welcoming and supportive community.

LSM 2026 takes place at St. Olaf College from June 21–July 19. 

Know a young musician (grades 8–12) who would thrive at LSM? Nominate them today at LSMacademy.org/nominate. Questions? admissions@lutheransummermusic.org.

Bach as Gospel:

An invitation to help establish Bach Cantata Vespers

in Christchurch, New Zealand

St Paul's Lutheran Church, Christchurch, a small congregation of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, invites you to partner in a unique Gospel-centred music ministry: the establishment of Bach Cantata Vespers, worship in which chorales, cantatas, preaching, and prayer proclaim the Gospel in their original Lutheran liturgical setting. This ministry would be unique in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have the opportunity to relocate a small two-manual and pedal Visser-Rowland pipe organ from Texas, an instrument ideally suited to Bach and the Lutheran musical tradition. St Paul's has the funds to purchase the organ, but not to bring it here.

We are seeking financial support from ALCM members, congregations, musicians, and individuals with a heart for the Gospel to help cover packing and shipping.

By helping bring this organ to us here in New Zealand, you will give Christchurch a living voice of the Gospel through music, worship, and mission, following Luther’s conviction that “next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.”

For more information or to contribute, please email ALCM member Pastor Mark Whitfield at mark.whitfield@lutheran.org.nz.  

Editor's note: Many of you met Pastor Whitfield at last summer's conference, where he presided at the Gathering Eucharist.

The 2026 Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition

The 2026 William Wolfram Student Award in Liturgical Art

Recognizes student artists who evidence:

• Commitment to Christian faith and practice
• Excellence in artistic expression
• Commitment to creating pieces purposed for use within worship settings

$1,000.00 prize

Deadline: May 1^st, 2026 - Submit a single PDF with quality images of your work, one full image and one or two detail images along with title, media, dimensions, year created, and anything else you want the judges to know.

Send to Barry.Bobb@CUChicago.edu

(Recent grads--since May 2024--may also apply.)

Additional information is available on the Center's website.

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. Paper and downloadable versions of CrossAccent are also available in the Marketplace;
• 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.