Campus clips: God’s gift of music

Concordia University Irvine alum Christian Guebert (’10) conducts his original composition, Inscriptions, on May 9 at Carnegie Hall. (CUI)

The monthly “Campus Clips” column includes brief reports from LCMS day schools, campus ministries, universities and seminaries.

Carnegie Hall debut

On May 9, Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., made its Carnegie Hall debut in New York City with more than 130 musicians performing a one-hour set on America’s most famous concert stage. The concert premiered two works by CUI alumni: Transeamus (for handbells) by Alex Guebert (’10) and Inscriptions by Christian Guebert (’10). The latter — an eight-movement work featuring the Concordia Choir, Concert Handbells, Concordia Sinfonietta and Concordia Brass — was conducted by the composer. The audience included hundreds of CUI supporters.

The performance capped CUI’s USA 250 Music Festival, an initiative to expand the CUI music department’s national profile. In addition to the Carnegie Hall event, ensembles performed an American Hymns and Anthems concert at historic Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and several small ensembles and student actors shared music and poetry in Central Park during a “Concordia takeover” event.

Living scholarship

On Aug. 31, Dr. Barry Bobb, director of CUC’s Center for Church Music, will retire after 13 years of volunteer service. Under Bobb’s leadership, the center has expanded its physical and digital offerings while encouraging future generations of Lutheran church musicians, liturgical artists and scholars through awards, scholarships, publications and educational resources. The center will announce its incoming director this month, with Bobb continuing to serve as an advisor.

“Since 2010, Barry’s vision has shaped the center from a treasured collection of manuscripts and composer resources into a living source of scholarship, collaboration and encouragement for those who carry forward Lutheran church music,” said Dr. Charles P. Brown, chair of the music department at CUC. “I am grateful for what Barry has set in motion and [am] inspired to help build upon it for the sake of the church’s song for generations to come.”

Read more at cuchicago.edu/news.

Using technology faithfully

Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., recently announced the launch of the Solomon Scholars program, a Christ-centered the community designed for students pursuing careers in the computing, technology and problem-solving fields. Named after King Solomon, who was known for wisdom grounded in the fear of the Lord, Solomon Scholars provides a close-knit learning community rooted in biblical wisdom, mentorship and service. It is open to incoming freshmen and transfer students interested in using their computing gifts to serve their neighbors and glorify God. Learn more at cune.edu/solomonscholars.

Advancing the cause

On July 1, the Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson began his service as vice-president of University Advancement at Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn. Peterson has served CSP since July 2024 as senior Development and Church Relations officer, a role in which he has engaged LCMS donors and congregations to garner support for CSP students.

Prior to his time at CSP, Peterson served as vice-president of Administration at Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. He previously served as campus pastor at the CUAA campus and as parish pastor for a congregation in St. Louis.

“Ryan has been an integral part of our efforts to engage new donors and more congregations and ministry leaders in the work that CSP is doing for the church and world,” said the Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, CSP president. “I am delighted that he has accepted this new role and look forward to seeing his leadership expand during an exciting time for CSP.”

Future leaders serve

At Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., students in the Director of Church Ministries (DCM) program are spending their summer serving churches, camps and communities while putting classroom learning into practice. The Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor, professor of theology and director of the DCM program, notes that the summer internships help prepare students while giving the broader church “an opportunity to see the quality of our Concordia students and the gifts they bring to ministry.”

Junior Kelsie Gerhardt is serving a church in Indiana, assisting with youth group, Bible study and mission trips for students in grades 5–12. Senior Adam Homann is directing a summer camp in Arkansas, overseeing staff, developing Bible studies and writing chapel devotions. In Colorado, senior Ally Moreno is helping with vacation Bible school, youth Bible study, fellowship events and campus ministry.

“These summer internships display the zeal and excitement our DCM students have for church work,” Taylor said. “It won’t be long before these students take what they’ve learned and develop into church leaders.”

News from LCMS U

The fourth annual LCMS U Campus Ministry Staff Conference was held June 4–5 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kan. Under the theme “From Generation to Generation,” 50 campus ministry leaders gathered for theological education, networking and prayer. Plenary sessions were led by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Steinmann, professor emeritus at Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., and the Rev. Andy Becker, director of Family Ministry for the LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM). Breakout sessions, table discussions and time for mutual encouragement rounded out the event, which is hosted annually by the ONM, each year in a new location, to support the more than 160 LCMS U chapters across the country.

Collected wisdom

On June 20, the Rev. Dr. William C. Weinrich, professor of Historical Theology, and the Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, professor emeritus of Exegetical Theology and president emeritus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), spoke at the dedication of their theological library collections, which they donated to the Wayne and Barbara Kroemer Library at CTSFW.

Weinrich’s and Wenthe’s collections are now housed in the W. Paul Wolf Lantern, a library space provided by Paul and Carolyn Wolf, with shelves and furnishings provided by David and Paula Daniels. “Every time a seminarian pulls a volume from the collections in this building, they are engaging in fides quaerens intellectum (faith seeking understanding),” said the Rev. Robert Roethemeyer, CTSFW Wakefield-Kroemer Director of Library and Information Services.

Considering church work

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, hosted 36 high schoolers during its 2026 Vocatio: High School visit event June 20–26. The retreat offered students entering grades 9–12 an opportunity to explore God’s guidance for their lives while getting a taste of seminary life. Participants took part in worship, met with professors, participated in a Concordia University System college fair, visited with current seminarians, explored the greater St. Louis area and visited with other young people in town for the 2026 Higher Things conference, held the same week in St. Louis. Learn more at csl.edu/admissions.

Posted July 31, 2026