Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
December 1, 2016 e-newsletter


Greetings!
 
Watch. Wait. Wake. Pray. Advent calls us to action as we prepare our hearts, and those of our choirs, instrumentalists, and congregations, to welcome Jesus, the Christ, the Savior of the world. In these post-election days, we can offer songs of hope, healing, and reconciliation as found in Geonyong Lee's beautiful hymn, "Come Now, O Prince of Peace":
Come now, O Prince of peace, make us one body.
Come, O Lord Jesus, reconcile your people.
As we move through this busy month of rehearsals and preparations for Advent and Christmas services, know that your ALCM colleagues are with you in spirit. You are not alone. God's blessings on your work!
 
Anne
 
Anne Krentz Organ
Past-president , Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

Greetings from the conference committee! Preparations continue as we strive to make our 2017 biennial conference the best yet - but only if you are a part of it!   
  • As we meet in Minneapolis, we will take a couple of field trips, the first of which will be to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Many of you are "Oles" and so this will be a homecoming for you. For those who have never been there, you are in for a treat! Not only will we worship in beautiful Boe Chapel, but chapel organist and ALCM member Jamie Bobb will introduce a new liturgical setting he composed. This will also be the place for our first plenary by Chad Fothergill and Daniel Schwandt, as they explore the future of the cantor in the 21st century. Following all of this, we will return to the hotel for a gala dinner meeting and 30th anniversary celebration.
     
  • This conference gives us an opportunity to give thanks to those charter members who founded our organization. I am collecting those names! Be on the lookout for an opportunity to check the list...I'm trying to get it as accurate as possible.
     
  • Finally, click here to register for the conference - do it now while the rates are low! And click here to make your hotel reservation - with every room you reserve, you help ALCM meet its room minimum, and save money for ALCM in the process! 
I look forward to seeing you all in Minneapolis!
Julie 
 
Julie Grindle
President


Remember: If you want to make a partial payment of conference fees in 2016, fill out and mail a paper registration form with your check or credit card information. This option is only available for registrations received by December 30, 2016. Final payment of fees must be received by January 31, 2017. Don't lose your 2016 continuing education money -- register now!
End of Year Gifts to ALCM

If you plan to make a donation and want to have it counted as a 2016 gift, please note the following deadlines:
  • If you are planning to send a check, it must be received in the ALCM office no later than Thursday, December 29.
  • Online donations may be made through December 31.
Donations made after those dates will be considered 2017 gifts. If you have any questions about what you have already given or pledged in 2016, feel free to contact Cheryl in the office at office@alcm.org or by phone at 800-624-2526.

Thanks to all who have already given or pledged gifts to ALCM in 2016!



"Tips for the 30th"

We hope that you enjoyed the first issue of "Tips for the 30th," which included tips and repertoire suggestions for the Sundays after Epiphany. If you missed this issue, you can view it in the members area of the website. 

Do you have a tip related to the Sundays after Epiphany that you'd like to share with ALCM members? While logged in to the members area, select the "Share a Tip" option on the left side of the page. 

Would you like to be one of the contributors to an issue of "Tips for the 30th"? Send an email to office@alcm.org.
Executive Director Search Continues

ALCM's  search is now underway for an executive director. If you know someone you think would be a good fit for the position, please pass along the job description and encourage them to apply. Applications must be received no later than January 6, 2017.


Join us at Valparaiso University in 2017!  
LSM & SOSI 2017 will be hosted  on the campus of Valparaiso University
and we are excitedly preparing for our 36 th summer of 
transforming lives through faith and music.
 
Encourage a young musician in your life to apply today!
If we receive their application before  December 15 , 
they will receive an automatic  $300 tuition discount . 

Apply today: https://lutheranmusicprogram.org/apply
 
Special ALCM Discount
Students can use the exclusive discount code ALCM17
for an additional $150 discount on tuition!

Additional scholarships and discounts are also available to help students get to LSM.


Now through December 31, 2016, save 10% off all
Evangelical Lutheran Worship resources. View the whole set of resources at http://www.evangelicallutheranworship.org/. 
To order, go to www.augsburgfortress.org. 
Use promo code  ELW2016 at checkout. 

Distance Learning Opportunities for Church Musicians

The Leadership Program for Musicians, a cooperative program between the ELCA and The Episcopal Church, is proud to announce online courses for church musicians: Christian Hymnody and Episcopal Liturgy beginning in January; Lutheran Liturgy and Developing a Philosophy of Church Music beginning in March. LPM courses are designed for musicians who desire to expand their knowledge and hone their skills. Pastors and others are welcome to register, as well. 

For complete information, including links to registration, see: http://www.lpm-online.org/distancelearning/index.php



First Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, N.C. 
Jan. 4-6, 2017

Featuring Robert Hobby, Allen Hightower, Craig Mueller, Tom Shelton, Stephen Mitchell and Mark Lawson, the National Conference for Sacred Music is a unique conference designed to provide the practicing church musician fresh ideas to help create a vital, growing music ministry. The emphasis of this conference is providing a variety of new approaches to revitalize and reinvigorate the church's passion for music in worship. For information about the conference, registration, hotels, schedule and workshop descriptions, visit augsburgmusic.org/ncsm.

Student Award Winners Announced

The Center for Church Music, based at Concordia University Chicago, has announced the winners of awards designed to encourage the next generation of church musicians. 
 
Recipients of the Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition are Philip Beidenbender of St. Olaf College and Scott Gercken of Concordia University Chicago.  The Hillert Award, which is co-sponsored by ALCM, includes a cash prize of $500. To apply, visit the Center's web site at  https://www.cuchicago.edu/about-concordia/center-for-church-music/ .
 
In addition to the Hillert Award, the Center announced the that Sam Eatherton, Cantor at Zion Lutheran Church, Dallas, and a DMA candidate at Baylor University is this year's Schalk scholars. Named for ALCM member Carl Schalk, Schalk scholars receive stipends for research and opportunities for publication and presentation. 
 
Congratulations to these two award winners!