February greetings!

January was a busy month for ALCM. Each of our four regions is putting together engaging and thoughtful conferences for this summer. Stay tuned for more details and information on each of them, and I hope that you will plan to attend at least one, if possible. (See below for dates and locations.) And plans for our next biennial conference in Atlanta in 2015 are coming together nicely. Details about that will be coming soon as well. Our board had its annual face-to-face meeting in Chicago last month. Highlights from that meeting are listed below. Those meetings are always productive and I am grateful to our board members for the time and talents they contribute to our organization. I am also happy to report that we have received another $15,000 grant this year from the Metropolitan New York Synod (ELCA). Grants like this are so important to our fiscal stability. Thanks to board member Tom Schmidt for bringing this grant opportunity to our attention.

Blessings,

David Bielenberg

Executive Director

• The Board began a fresh look at the "Statement on Worship and Music."  A team has been appointed to review the statement and gather more information as to what statement we need as an organization to accurately reflect our diversity in ALCM membership.
• Heard reports on all four regional conferences for 2014.  Look for information soon on the website and plan to attend!
• Finalized documentation clarifying the process for seeking applicants and reviewing submissions for the Raabe Prize.
• Discussed and approved the idea of providing video greeting to the membership from time to time.
• A nominating committee has been formed to provide candidates for the offices of President-Elect and Board Member at Large.
• Discussion and approval for support of local gatherings across the country.  ALCM's "Cantor Connection" page is dedicated to support and publicizing such events.
• Discussed best ways to engage college professors of church music with the organization.  Ideas continue to be gathered.
• Heard a report on progress for the Atlanta 2015 Conference.  Plans are underway for July 19-23, 2015.
• Approved a 2014 Operating Budget of $248,214.

Janette Fishell, Colin Andrews, Walter Huff, Christopher Young, Bruce Neswick

The Faculty of the Jacobs School of Music Organ and Choral Departments are delighted to announce our first collaborative summer course:

Taught by the faculty from the Jacobs School of Music Organ and Choral Departments, the course supplies continuing education enrichment to choral conductors, organists and students from other institutions who seek a supportive and stimulating environment in which to sharpen skills and engage new concepts and repertoire.

Attendees will have the option of tailoring their week's course of study from a variety of offerings of interest to organists and choral conductors, including:

            *           Applied Study in Organ and Choral Conducting

            *           Classes in Keyboard Skills, Service Playing, Organ Improvisation, the Art of the Choral Warm-up, Voice Building for Choristers, Choral Repertoire for the Church Year.

For more information, visit music.indiana.edu/precollege/adult/sacred-music 

Dr. Zebulon Highben, Rev. Wayne Weissenbuehler, Dr. Gregory Peterson

The worship theme for the 2014 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM) is Let the Whole Creation Cry, exploring what it means to be a part of creation that reflects God's love and beauty. The scripture, liturgy, and hymnody will bring this rich imagery to life, reminding us that all creation bears witness to the glory of God. 

Leading LSM in worship this summer will be Rev. Wayne Weissenbuehler (chaplain, Burlington, IA); ALCM members Dr. Zebulon Highben (chapel choir, Muskingum University); and Dr. Gregory Peterson (organ, Luther College). LSM takes place June 22 to July 20 on the campus of Luther College. 

Encourage young musicians in your congregation to apply to LSM today! Applications submitted by February 28 receive the $150 early application discount. Students using the application code ALCM14 receive an additional $100 ALCM member referral discount. Email Sue Olstad, director of admissions, for materials. Build even more discounts for your students by enrolling in the Young Musicians Partnership. 

Admission is free. To find out more about Bach and Sons, visit www.BachandSons.com.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Missouri, is located east of Highway 270, at the corner of Manchester and Ballas Roads, across from West County Shopping Center. For more information, visit www.stpaulsdesperes.org/events or call 314-822-0447.