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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
May 1, 2026 e-newsletter
| | Greeting from ALCM Board Member Wallace Horton | | |
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
How many times have you spoken those words during the past four weeks? 10, 20, maybe 30 times? We don’t normally speak those words in a vacuum. In most cases we are among friends and colleagues who proclaim and believe the same truth that we confess in that statement. Jesus IS alive! It is a fact that gives each of us hope in this life and the next.
What makes those words so meaningful is that when we speak them, we are sharing the same truth that the Church has been sharing for 2000 years. That’s approximately 100 generations. Think of it. Our parents, their parents, our great grandparents have based their faith in the same event in which we base our faith. Christ is risen! 100 generations of sharing the faith!
ALCM has been sharing its story for two generations since its birth in 1986. The message of “nurturing and equipping musicians to serve and lead the Church’s song” rings loud and clear. With God’s continued blessing, it will continue to be proclaimed from “Generation to Generation.” Your board and leadership are working hard to plan not only for the present generation, but for ALCM’s future as well. ALCM has “a song to sing” and we want it to be heard for generations to come. We want you to be a part of that song.
If possible, I encourage you to participate in the 40th Anniversary Conference, “From Generation to Generation,” celebrating the beginning of ALCM as well as its future! The location will be at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN from July 13-16. Our four days together will overlap with the Lutheran Summer Music Festival week and will also feature a presentation of J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion as well as a myriad of worship and workshop opportunities. Visit the ALCM website for all of the details and registration information. If you are unable to attend, I encourage you to be a part of the monthly fourth Friday “Happy Hours” that we share together at 6:00 PM (Eastern time), where your fellow ALCM members from throughout the United States and the world exchange ideas and thoughts and learn from one another.
May you continue to be blessed by the joy and reality of knowing that “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed.” God bless you and all that you do for our Risen Savior!
Faithfully,
Dr. Wallace Horton
Member of the Board of Directors
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Space is filling up - register now!
Space is filling up fast, so if you have not already done so, be sure to register for the St. Olaf conference as soon as possible. Those of you who have already registered will be receiving a number of informational emails. Address questions to Adam Hughes at education@alcm.org.
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40th Anniversary Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
Would you like to contribute to ALCM and support our 40th Anniversry conference at St. Olaf? Gifts are welcome to support the conference, and all donors will be listed in the conference book. Donations may be made at ALCM website through June 1.
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Mount Calvary Academy of Music is excited for:
Music of the Church with Inaugural Instructor Dr. David Cherwien!
Private lessons with David Cherwien
in the Minneapolis/St Paul area offered Summer 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 SUMMER TERM June, July and August! Flexible number of lessons on dates arranged directly with David Cherwien
Enrollment is accepted by term. 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.
| | The 40th Anniversary Committee is very happy to report that our 40th anniversary campaign continues to go very well. We have received gifts and pledges totalling $512,886.71! And so far this year we have received gifts from 112 donors. We would like to surpass the 448 donors we had in 2025 in 2026, our actual anniversary year. You can join the campaign by making your gift here. All gifts matter! | | |
Call for 2027 Conference Workshop Proposals
ALCM is calling for workshop proposals for the worship and music conference to be held in St. Louis, June 28-July 2, 2027. To submit your proposal complete this form by August 1, 2026. Workshop proposals accepted by the committee for the 2027 conference will be notified by mid-fall, 2026. Submitting a proposal does not guarantee a workshop spot although proposals will also be considered for ALCM’s seasonal webinar series and future conferences.
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40th Anniversary Hymn Commission:
"O God, You Saw My Early Being"
Congratulations to Stephen Starke and Bob Hobby, whose commissioned hymn, “O God, You Saw My Early Being,” has now been published by MorningStar Music. Both paper and downloadable scores for choir and oboe as well as a free downloadable congregation part are available on the MorningStar website.
Special thanks to Concordia Publishing House (text copyright) and MorningStar Music (tune copyright) for having extended free ALCM member usage through April 1, 2026. To use the hymn in worship now requires purchased copies of the hymn. Please remember to report hymn usage at OneLicense.net.
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2027 Raabe Prize
Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition. The Raabe Prize is established to recognize a recent musical work that promotes and extends the practice of church music as it is informed and shaped by Lutheran theological insight and worship practices. The composition so recognized will have been written during the five-year period prior to the year in which the prize is awarded and should be representative of a larger body of work by the composer. Preference will be given to those compositions that grow out of the heart of Lutheran worship – the song of the assembly that enables all to lift their voices in prayer, praise, and proclamation as they gather around Word and Sacrament.
Submissions for the 2027 award must be received by October 1, 2026.
2027 Raabe Prize Description & Guidelines
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Part Time Remote Position Available:
ALCM Education Coordinator
The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is seeking a high achieving and collaborative part time employee to serve as the staff coordinator of ALCM’s Hearts, Hands, Voices local workshops, it’s even year national conferences and to provide support for ALCM projects. The individual will work with ALCM’s executive director and office staff as well as planning committees to ensure tasks related to ALCM’s educational programs are executed in a timely and high-quality manner. Essential qualifications: detail oriented; excellent written and verbal communication skills; successful project management and time management track record; proven ability to meet deadlines. Click here for a detailed task list. Exceptional candidates please email a cover letter and resume to jimrindelaub@alcm.org with “EDUCATION COORDINATOR APPLICATION” in the subject line. Interviewing has begun, so be sure to apply no later than May 15.
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ALCM at 40 - Reflections from
Former Board Member Linda Martin
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When I read about Michael Krentz’ excitement in introducing Lutheran Book of Worship to his congregation in the 1980s, it reminded me of my joy in helping children and adults explore that new worship book in my own congregation. In fact, I even had my children’s choir teach and lead some of the music (much to their delight)!
Read more...
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Events are published both in the website calendar and in the monthly e-newsletter in the month in which the event occurs. Adding your local event to the calendar is easy. It's good advertising - and it's free to ALCM members! Members can simply log in to the members area of the ALCM website and select "Add an event to the calendar" under "What would you like to do?" Click on the "Post Your Event" button and complete the form. Non-members should send event details to office@alcm.org.
View the full ALCM calendar.
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You are invited to join fellow singers for a day of inspiring, community-centered music-making at the LSM Choral Gathering. Led by Dr. David Cherwien, LSM faculty member and former Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir, this event offers a welcoming introduction to the music, people, and artistic life of Lutheran Summer Music at St. Olaf College.
Invite your choir members and join us! Register today: LSMacademy.org/choral-gathering
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Hymn Resources
The Day of Pentecost will be celebrated on May 24, so this month's suggestion from the "Hymn Settings" section of the members area is the hymn tune DEN SIGNEDE DAG ("O Day, Full of Grace." Settings for this tune includes a part for B-flat trumpet written by Jean Boehler that consists of melody and descant as well as two different harmonies. Also included is soloed-out organ setting by Paul Otte.
DEN SIGNEDE DAG – Boehler
DEN SIGNEDE DAG – 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.
| Do you have practical thoughts, suggestions, or resources that could help your fellow ALCM musicians? In Tempo is looking for articles for upcoming issues! The deadline to contribute to the next issue is July 15th. Questions and submissions may be directed to In Tempo editor Meghan Benson at intempo@alcm.org. | You are invited to freely make use of this ALCM Virtual Hymn on Pentecost or any other time. Share the hymn with everyone. All copyright restrictions are waived. If you own a One License subscription and offer the hymn recording in worship, please include it when submitting your One License report. | |
Share Your Psalm Refrains
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.). There are only a handfull of refrains right now, but we invite you to help the number grow by sharing your psalm refrains with other ALCM members. Be sure to review these guidelines before submitting your psalm files.
Please address any questions, suggestions, or corrections to Cheryl Dieter at office@alcm.org.
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The Center for Church Music, in partnership with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, wishes to honor the legacy of Concordia University Chicago distinguished professor of music Dr. Richard Hillert. His legacy includes not only his many liturgical pieces and musical works, but also his many gifts for teaching composition. The Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition is awarded every other year to a current student at a Lutheran university or seminary. (Recent grads--since May 2024--may also apply.)
The cash prize of $1000 will be awarded at the 2027 ALCM conference in St. Louis, which may also include a performance of the work as a part of its program. The Center will also donate $500 toward the winning composer’s travel to the conference. Submissions for the 2026 award must be received by June 1, 2026.
View additional information and submission requirements.
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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 1st, 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.
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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:
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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;
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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.
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Are you a congregation looking for a musician?
A musician looking for a position?
ALCM can help!
Employment resources have been developed to assist congregations in the process of searching for and hiring a musician. Presented in a step-by-step format, these resources will guide you through the entire employment process.
The ALCM job listing service connects those looking for positions in the field of church music with congregations and other institutions that have openings. By completing an online job posting form, congregations can post their positions on the ALCM website where those looking for employment may view them.
Musicians searching for a job may view posted job openings on the ALCM website, where those looking for positions can view them. Both full-time and part-time positions are listed, and new positions are added as received.
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The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
nurtures and equips musicians
to serve and lead the church's song.
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