Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will offer its 18th Annual Schola Cantorum: An Adult Choir Member Workshop Jan. 23.
The Schola Cantorum is open to all choir members, choir directors, and ministers of music. The schedule includes registration at 8:15 a.m., morning prayers at 8:45 a.m., and rehearsal sessions at 9:15 a.m. The day concludes at 3:30 p.m. after the closing prayer service, which will include some of the music learned that day.
Serving as clinician will be Dr. Christopher Aspaas, assistant professor of choral/vocal music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Aspaas conducts the Viking Chorus, an 88-voice ensemble of first-year student men, and also leads the Saint Olaf Chapel Choir, a 120-voice ensemble specializing in the performance of oratorio and larger multi-movement works. In addition to conducting, he teaches choral literature, choral conducting, and private applied voice.
Rev. Henry V. Gerike, choral director at Concordia Seminary, said the annual Schola Cantorum is “a way of serving the church at large.” Those who attend, he said, “learn and rehearse new choral music that can be used in their own churches. They will also learn better the art of singing. Each of our clinicians provides great insights into singing the praises of our Lord.”
A Choral Reading Session will precede the Schola Cantorum, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22. In the session, Aspaas will guide participants through an evening of choral and instrumental song in which he will preview new and current titles of music. The session is open to all, but is especially designed for choir directors. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
Registration for the Schola Cantorum is $60 per person or $110 per congregation ($70 or $125, respectively, after Jan. 8). The congregation fee enables a choir to send an unlimited number of members. Lunch and choral music are extra.
For more information or registration forms, call the seminary at 314-505-7486 or send an e-mail to ce@csl.edu.
Posted Nov. 18, 2009
