Be sure to let us know of hymn festivals in your area.  Send copies of the program to the office if available so that we can pass them along to others for planning ideas.

Just a few days ago, I received a note from David Haas (who will lead Night Prayer this summer at our conference, by the way). I am always deeply moved by the thoughtfulness and spiritual depth of our Hymn Society folks.  In the wake of events in Newtown, he  has been concerned about pastoral musicians who must minister and lead the sung prayer for funerals, especially in painful or crisis situations.  He notes that in Newtown, both the shooter and his mother were members of St. Rose of Lima Catholic parish.  He was thinking about what a difficult time those parish ministers must be having--especially here at Christmas.    

David says, "So I have been thinking, what can we as pastoral musicians (and fellow pilgrims) do in a practical way?  So I have found the address of the parish, and the names of two of the music directors there... and so, I would like to invite you, and the members of your choirs and ensembles, your cantors, and your parish communities.. to consider writing them a card or a note (not an e-mail, but an actual card or note, that they can hold in their hands), to share our support, our prayers, and in particular, stand (and sing) in solidarity with those who are entrusted with the ministry of sung prayer during these most difficult times. "

Here is the address and contact information:

Joe Jacovino and Brian Kirmil, Directors of Music

St. Rose of Lima Church

46 Church Hill Road

Newtown, CT  06470-1648

This parish and other worshiping communities in Newtown will need a long time to heal, so don't think that your notes would come too late to be helpful.   

The Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts, in collaboration with the Fred Bock Institute of Music and the Ogilvie Institute of Preaching, is excited to announce its first choral music and worship song search. The search for compositions is connected this year to an upcoming Ogilvie Institute of Preaching conference entitled, "Talk of God, Talk of Science." More about the conference can be found at The Brehm Center website www.brehmcenter.com, including its guest speakers and lecturers. Open to composers of all ages, styles, and training, this search requests the writing of an original, premiere-performance SATB choral work or congregational song based on the conference topic. The winner of this contest will receive a cash prize, as well as the possibility of having the piece published by The Brehm Center's Jubal House imprint, distributed by Hal Leonard. A performance of the winning pieces will be consideredas part of the worship service connected to the conference. Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2013.  For more information: Brehm Music Center Contest

The Twin Cities chapter of the American Guild of Organists announces a competition for an unpublished, newly-composed work for solo pipe organ in the form of a prelude or postlude suitable for worship that must quote or be based upon an existing hymn tune or a melody from the repertoire of Gregorian chant. A single prize of $1500 USD will be awarded to any composer of any age residing or studying in the United States, for a work that is a minimum of four (4) minutes in length. The use of existing melodies in the new composition that are under copyright must have documented permission to use. Melodies in the public domain must be so indicated on the Official Entry Form. (See below.) The name of the composer must not appear on the score, and the Official Entry Form must be submitted with the composition. The submission may have been previously performed, but must be unpublished and cannot have won a prize in any other composition. No member of the TCAGO Board or its officers may submit an entry. If, in the opinion of the judges, no entry is worthy of the prize, it shall not be awarded. The Official Entry Form at <www.tcago.org> must be submitted with the composition. Deadline for submission is 1 April, 2013. Winner will be announced 1 May, 2013. Submit to: AGO Composition Contest 239 Selby Av. St. Paul, MN 55102

The Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition is established to recognize a recent musical work which promotes and extends the practice of church music as it is informed and shaped by Lutheran theological insight and worship practices.

Preference will be given to those compositions which grow out of, but are not necessarily restricted to, the worshipping assembly of the baptized who gather around Word and Sacrament.

Compositions which feature the human voice will be preferred over compositions for instruments alone. Submissions must be postmarked by February 1, 2013.  For full contest guidelines see the attached announcement. Raabe Prize