The board of directors of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is pleased to announce the appointment of David Bielenberg as executive director. David's professional career includes nearly twenty-five years of experience as an arts administrator for a variety of performing arts organizations and educational institutions, and most recently with an arts & entertainment district in Baltimore City, MD.

As executive director of Station North Arts & Entertainment, Inc. - the not-for-profit organization that promotes and manages the Station North Arts & Entertainment District in the heart of Baltimore City - David spearheaded a number of fund- and awareness-raising initiatives. In March 2011, Station North was recognized by the State of Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development with the 2011 Arts & Entertainment District Outstanding Achievement Award.

Prior to his tenure with Station North, David served as executive director of Concert Artists of Baltimore and executive director of the Maryland Arts Festival at Towson University. From 2001-2005, he served as executive director of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC. Under his leadership, the Chorus experienced a marked enhancement of its administrative operations, including increased fundraising support from individuals and corporate sponsors and improved marketing and communications initiatives. During his 4-year tenure, the Chorus' annual budget grew by more than 50% from $423,000 to $750,000. In June 2006, the Chorus recognized his extraordinary contributions to the organization with a Circle of Excellence award.

Previous positions have included serving as director of development for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and as associate director of development for Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT. Before moving to New Haven, he worked for a number of performing arts organizations in New York City, including the Paul Taylor Dance Company, the Tisch School for the Arts at NYU, and the concert series at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

A native of Baltimore, David also has an extensive background in choral music. Since the age of nine, he has sung regularly with school and community choruses as well as with professional church choirs in Baltimore, New York, and Rockville (Maryland). He also conducted an a capella choral ensemble at the Tisch School for the Arts from 1995-1996.

The son and grandson of Lutheran pastors, David attended Lutheran parochial schools in the Baltimore area from grades K-12. He began singing in the men and boys choir of St. David's Episcopal Church in Baltimore at age eight and was trained in the Royal School of Church Music tradition there as a boy and then as a teen chorister. David earned a bachelor of music degree with a business minor from New York University, and a master of arts in arts administration from Goucher College in Baltimore.

After moving to New York City to pursue his bachelor's degree in music, he began singing professionally at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields under the direction of David Shuler. While at St. Luke's, David was also a member of the music committee, and served as a lay reader and intercessor. After moving to Washington, DC, he began singing professionally at Christ Episcopal Church, Rockville, MD under the direction of Tad Cavuoti and also served as a lay reader there.

We recognize that David's understanding of and appreciation for church music combined with his background in arts administration will serve him well in his new position. Welcome, David!