2013 Conference, Richmond, VA July 14-18

Hilary Seraph Donaldson is a consultant, pastoral musician, choral conductor, and congregational song enlivener based in Toronto, Canada. She holds an MSM from the Perkins School of Theology and currently is Pastoral Musician in Residence at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Humber Heights (Etobicoke, Canada). Her worship blog may be found at    http://transformingeveryguest.blogspot.com/  Hilary is a former Lovelace Scholar (2009) and has written for THE HYMN (Spring-Summer 2012).

Antonio Alonso is one of the most prominent voices in contemporary liturgical music. His music reflects an understanding of the multicultural needs of the contemporary church as well as a commitment to strong ritual music.  Having recently served as a church musician in a multicultural Roman Catholic congregation in California, Tony is now pursuing a PhD in the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he is focusing on liturgical and ritual studies. Tony led the Songwriters Practicum at the 2012 conference in Winnipeg.

Jan 29, 2012 - "Through the Church the Song Goes On" held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Brian R. Larson, Cantor.

July 15, 2012 - "The Games of the XXX Olympiad Inspire a Generation," a Global Hymn Festival honoring the spirit of the summer Olympics was held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Smyrna Beach, FL, Brian R. Larson, Cantor.

January 27, 2013 - "Psalmfest" featuring Psalms for All Seasons and supported by Calvin Institute of Christian Worship was held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brian R. Larson, Cantor.

February 3, 2013 -- "When In Our Music God Is Glorified" A festival of congregational singing was held at Mulberry United Methodist Church in Macon, GA, led by Dr. David Keith, condusctor, Jr. Jack E. Mitchener, organist and the Midtown Brass Ensemble.

February 10, 2013 -- "Through the Church the Song Goes On" A hymn festival introducing the Hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (available summer 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources) was presented at LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI.  Service planners and participants included Minister of Music and organist/pianist Larry Visser and Rev. David Bast, an RCA minister. The festival centered around the theme "Singing the Whole of God's Story."

February 10, 2013 -- "Sing the Psalms" a service of hymns was presented by the WIU Chapter, American Guild of Organists at First Presbyterian Church, Macomb, IL Lynn Thompson and other organists led the service.

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.

Our hearty congratulations to both of these fine writers!!

Dan Damon is seeking new songs for a forthcoming collection from Hope Publishing Company: At Your Altars (chants, refrains, and short songs) with a projected publication date of June 2014.  For more information see the attached file:  Song search

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