ACADEMIC PROGRAMS:
The Vi Messerli Memorial
Lectures in Church Music
October 16-18, 2011
We are pleased to welcome a fine roster of presenters and to offer two exciting musical events. Last year we dedicated the Center for Church Music at Concordia University Chicago which houses the manuscripts of Richard Hillert and the hymnal collection of Carl Schalk. Included in this year’s schedule are a number of presentations intended to expand upon that opening by focusing on a number of significant periods in the history of Lutheran church music and hymn singing in general.
Jeffrey Blersch of Concordia University Nebraska will lead us in a hymn festival on the Holy Trinity at St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park—beautiful to both eyes and ears! He will also present a workshop on effective hymn leadership from the organ.
We will hear captivating performances of music of three early Lutheran composers—Johann Hermann Schein, Samuel Scheidt, and Heinrich Schütz—and others, sung by members of Bella Voce and accompanied by period instruments, all under the direction of Andrew Lewis. Many of you will remember this group’s fine performance of the music of Dieterich Buxtehude at Lectures a number of years ago.
Robert Hawkins from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary will present his ground-breaking research on the too-often forgotten and under-appreciated life and work of late-19th-century author and hymn translator Harriet Reynolds Krauth Spaeth.
In addition to his provocative keynote address, Anthony Ruff of St. John Abbey and University, will present his work on earliest hymns in our hymnal, done in part as an extended essay on Greek and Latin hymnody for the hymnal companion to Lutheran Service Book.
We also welcome three fine conductors who specialize in working with children’s choirs, women’s voices, and handbells:
Joshua Pedde of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir at Butler University, who recently conducted the 50-voice conference children’s choir at the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s worship conference, attended by 1000 pastors, musicians, and lay people
Sharon Hansen of the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and conductor of the Milwaukee Choral Artists, whose professional women’s vocal ensemble performed a stunning program at the national ALCM conference two years ago
Susan Geschke, whose 80 published compositions for handbells are rung by handbell choirs of all ages across the country
We hope you are able to join us in October.
Click here to view the 2011 Lectures brochure.
Click here for full schedule, hotel information, and more information on the presenters.
Lectures Archives
Click here to view the 2010 lectures brochure
Click here to read about the 2010 Lectures Presenters
If you are interested in the 2009 Carl Schalk celebration:
Click here to view the 2009 Lectures brochure
Click here to view the 2009 Music of Carl Schalk Concert Programs