Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will offer its 12th Annual Schola Cantorum, a choir member workshop, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004. Registration and the opening session will be held in The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. Other sessions will be held in the Clara and Spencer Werner Auditorium. The Schola Cantorum is open to all choir members and choir directors.

The schedule for the day begins with registration at 8:30 a.m., Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m., and rehearsal sessions at 9:30 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. Prof. Eldon Balko, emeritus associate professor of music at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., will serve as this year's clinician.

Prior to his retirement, Balko was director of choral activities at Valparaiso University. Previously, he spent 15 years in Milwaukee, where he taught at Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Concordia University Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. While a resident of Milwaukee, he also conducted the Milwaukee Lutheran Acappella Choir and the Schola Cantorum, a choir school for children. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin - Superior and graduate work at Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Since his retirement, he has remained active in choral performance, working with parish choirs, community choirs and as a workshop clinician. His undergraduate alma mater has recently awarded him a distinguished alumnus award "for outstanding service and contribution in the choral arts."

"We hold the Schola Cantorum as a way of serving the church-at-large," commented Rev. Henry Gerike, director of choirs at Concordia Seminary. "By attending, choir members and directors will learn and rehearse new choral music that can be used in their own churches. They also will learn better the art of singing. Each of our clinicians provides great insights into singing the praises of our Lord."

The cost for the Schola Cantorum is $75 per congregation ($85 after January 16). For congregations with less than 200 members, the cost is $65. For that fee, a choir can send as many choir members as it desires. Lunch and the choral music to be learned are not included in the fee. For more information or registration forms, call 314-505-7123.