Organist Jeffrey Blersch and members of Bella Voce to perform at Concordia’s Lectures in Church Music
9/11/2011
Oct. 11, 2011—Concordia University Chicago’s 46th annual Vi Messerli Memorial Lectures in Church Music symposium will be held Oct. 16-18.
Lectures in Church Music is of the nation’s longest-running church music symposiums attracting musicians from across the country. Activities will take place in Kretzmann Hall and the new Center for Church Music on Concordia’s campus, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest. Free, handicapped-accessible parking is available in the visitors’ lot north of the University parking structure off Bonnie Brae Street.
Registration is required for all workshops; fees vary based on workshops and days attending. For more information, visit www.cuchicago.edu/lectures or contact the Department of Music at 708-209-3062.
Concerts that will be performed during Lectures in Church Music are:
- “Hymn Festival on the Holy Trinity,” featuring Jeffrey Blersch, organist at Concordia University Nebraska and Kapelle, Concordia’s première vocal ensemble. The concert will begin at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 16 at St. John Lutheran Church in Forest Park. Admission is free.
- “Music of Scheidt, Schein and Schütz” performed by members of Bella Voce conducted by Andrew Lewis with period instruments led by Paul Von Hoff. The concert will begin at 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17 at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest. Tickets are $15 general admission; $10 for seniors and students.
In addition to the concerts, Lectures in Church Music presentations for which registration is required include:
- Keynote speaker 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.
- 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.
- Sharon Hansen, professor and director of choral activities of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is author of Helmuth Rilling: Conductor—Teacher. She is also founder and music director of the Milwaukee Choral Artists.
- Joshua Pedde, assistant director for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, was recognized by Butler University for outstanding work in elementary music.
- Susan Gesche, music director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake is a well-know composer and arranger of handbell music, with over 80 publications.
About Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Chicago is a liberal arts-based Christian university in the Lutheran tradition. Through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, and College of Graduate and Innovative Programs, Concordia offers more than 100 areas of study in small classes taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. Concordia University Chicago was named as the second fastest growing campus among private nonprofit master’s institutions nationally by The Chronicle of Higher Education’s 2011 Almanac Edition. For the third consecutive year, combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment has exceeded more than 5,000 students. Concordia University Chicago is located in River Forest, 10 miles west of downtown Chicago. Learn more at www.CUChicago.edu.
Media Contact:
Sarah Hickman
Sarah.Hickman@CUChicago.edu
708-209-3235