Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

May 1, 2023 e-newsletter
Greeting from ALCM Board Member Jean Boehler
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Open your eyes! Jesus, our Risen Lord is full of surprises! Imagine the surprise of Mary when she realized who the Gardener really was. Imagine the surprise of the disciples when their eyes were opened during a meal they would never forget!
 
Are your eyes open to see Jesus, our great surprise? Do you see resurrection moments even in the midst of this weary world? In this glorious springtime, as the green blade rises from the dark earth, is your musical refrain, “Love is come again like wheat arising green"? (ELW 379)
 
We look forward to exploring what that Love means this summer as we gather in Philadelphia for our 2023 biennial conference, “What Wondrous Love.” As God’s Spirit works among us and through us, surprises await. With grateful hearts, we shall support and encourage one another after a long pandemic. With open hearts, we will receive all that God provides so that, renewed, we may be His faithful leaders of song.
 
As you “walk the way,” making music in the place God has called you to serve, may your eyes be open to the surprises God has in store for you!
 
Walking the way, Christ in the center
Telling the story to open our eyes;
Breaking our bread, Giving us glory:
Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise.
Jesus is risen and we shall arise:
Give God the glory! Alleluia!
(ELW 377, LSB 474, CW21 454)
 
Easter blessings!
Jean Boehler
Virtual Registration Option Now Available!!!

Although there is nothing like being in community, learning, worshiping, and singing side-by-side in person with colleagues at an ALCM conference, we know that there are many reasons that travel to such an event may not be possible for everyone. The conference planning committee is delighted to report that, due to a very generous contribution from Mark and Kathy Helge, a virtual registration option is now available for this summer's conference in Philadelphia. All sessions of this summer's conference will be professionally live-streamed online for those who have chosen this option. And for those who have registered to attend in person as well as those who register virtually, recordings will be made available for you to watch after the conference has ended. You won't have to miss a single workshop! To learn more, or to register either as an in-person or a virtual participant, visit alcm.org/2023-philadelphia.

$2,000 Sabbaticals Available for In-person Attendees

Due once again to the generosity of Kathy and Mark Helge, during the conference drawings will be held for three sabbatical awards of $2,000 each. Each registered in-person conference attendee will be eligible for the sabbaticals.

Philadelphia Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
 
There's still time to contribute to ALCM and support our July conference in Philadelphia. All donors will be listed in the conference book. Donations may be made at on the ALCM website and must be received by May 3 to be included in the conference book.
ALCM Summer Webinars:
Watch for Registration Available May 15
Linda Martin

Friday, June 23
2:00 pm Eastern

"Working with Children/ Youth/Intergenerational Ensembles"
Paul Otte

Friday July 28
2:00 pm Eastern

"Free Melody-Soloed-Out Hymn Settings and Other Gems in the ALCM
Members Area"


Omaldo Perez

Friday, August 25
2:00 pm Eastern

"Treasures All Around: Hymns Reimagined for
Native Ears"
You are invited to freely make use of the ALCM Virtual Pentecost Hymn during the Pentecost season and at all times. 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. 
2023 Christus Rex Award
Congratulations to ALCM member Martin Seltz, recipient of the 2023 Institute of Liturgical Studies Christus Rex Award.

Established by the Institute’s advisory council in 2009, the Christus Rex Award annually recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to liturgical scholarship and renewal. Congratulations, Martin, and sincere thanks for the incredible work you have done and continue to do!
An Interview with
Nancy Raabe
ALCM president Pr. Nancy Raabe was interviewed by Barry Bobb, director of the Center for Church Music, discussing current developments in church music practices, effects of the lockdown, and relations between church musicians and clergy. Click the link to the left to watch the interview.
2023 Norma Aamodt-Nelson
Student Scholar Award

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Norma Aamodt-Nelson Student Scholar Award. 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 establishment of this award encourages collegiate students as they prepare for a vocation in church music. Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student as of Fall 2023. The recipient will receive a full scholarship for the 2023 ALCM biennial conference in Philadelphia, including housing and travel expenses, as well as a cash prize of $500. The recipient will also be invited to publicly play a piece or participate in worship at the conference. The deadline for submission has been extended to May 15.
Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM
Friday, May 26 - 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.
Events are published both in the website calendar and in the monthly e-newsletter. Do you have an event that you'd like to include? ALCM members should log in and follow the link on the main members area page. Non-members should send event details to office@alcm.org for consideration.
On the May Calendar
National Lutheran Choir Announces
New Artistic Director

The National Lutheran Choir has announced the appointment of Jennaya Robison, DMA, as its third artistic director in the organization’s 37-year history. A highly accomplished choral conductor and educator, Robison will assume her role on July 1, 2023, succeeding ALCM member David Cherwien, who is retiring after 21 years of service.

Last call for students to apply for LSM 2023 – spots are filling!

If you know a young musician who is hoping to attend LSM this summer and hasn’t applied yet, please urge them to submit their application ASAP! While the final application deadline is May 15, we are nearing capacity for this summer. Several instrument areas are already full! Students can apply for LSM at lsmacademy.org/apply. Contact LSM Admissions for questions: 612-879-9555 ext. 2 or admissions@lutheransummermusic.org.
Women's Sacred Music Project
Final Call for Submissions
Voices Found, published twenty years ago, was one of the first ecumenical and interfaith hymnals by, for, and about women. It made three important contributions to hymnody: celebrating biblical and other visionary women of faith; expanding imagery for God by challenging masculine linguistic conventions; and acknowledging that a woman’s experience is part of human life.

For the twentieth anniversary of the hymnal Voices Found, the Women’s Sacred Music Project in partnership with The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada is curating Resounding Voices, a new collection of hymns, songs, and liturgical music by people who identify as women. In our search, we long to address ideas, “which touch our hearts, fire our imagination, and encourage us to action.” Themes may relate to Christian or Jewish religious traditions with or without referring to the Bible or other sacred texts. We also hope to honor the spiritual legacy of Voices Found by connecting with issues of moral justice in our day. The deadline for submissions is May 15.
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:

In memoriam

Kyrie

Gloria

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.
St. James Music Press will award a grant to a church starting or revitalizing a music program. The purpose of this grant is to support new choir programs or established music ministries that are adding a new element by offering resources and professional support.

Elements awarded in the grant include -
  • Complimentary 1-Year Membership to St. James Music Press
  • $1000 - To support ministry needs
  • Quarterly program consultations with SJMP colleagues meant to help recipients maximize their SJMP membership, discuss program challenges, and celebrate/build upon program successes.

The deadline for proposals is June 30, 2023.

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 user name 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.
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.
A list of ALCM member-led 
Sunday worship streams & recordings is available at:


To be added, please email information to: office@alcm.org
The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
nurtures and equips musicians
to serve and lead the church's song.