On Jan. 19, approximately 70 participants, representing churches throughout the United States, attended the 16th Annual Schola Cantorum: An Adult Choir Member Workshop, held on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Dr. Gail Walton, director of music at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, served as this year’s clinician and trained, taught and encouraged the singers as they learned several different compositions. The Schola Cantorum was open to all choir members, choir directors and ministers of music. The schedule for the day included rehearsal sessions along with Morning and Closing Prayer services, at which the participants performed some of the music learned that day.

One participant commented, “…excellent music instruction and challenging pieces to make me stretch.” Another participant said, “I learned something from all the pieces of music.”

The Choral Reading Session was held in conjunction with the Schola Cantorum on Jan. 18 in The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus on the Concordia Seminary campus. In this evening of choral and instrumental song, Dr. Gail Walton previewed new and current titles of music with participants.

“Concordia Seminary has conducted 16 years of Schola Cantorum for the purpose of strengthening the skills of church choir members so they can do a better job of leading God’s people in song,” commented Rev. Henry Gerike, director of choirs at Concordia Seminary.

The 17th Annual Schola Cantorum will be held on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. Dr. Christopher Aspaas, St. Olaf College, Minn., will serve as the clinician for the day.

For more information about the Adult Choir Member Workshop, contact the Office of Continuing Education at (314) 505-7486 or ce@csl.edu.