Category Archives: Music

Festival Choir of Praise, June 24-25, 2023

UPDATE! — The registration deadline for the Festival Choir of Praise has been extended to June 4th.

Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, Indiana is hosting a choir workshop on the campus of Vincennes University under the direction of renown composer, conductor, concert artist, and humorist Pepper Choplin on June 24-25, 2023.

The Festival Choir of Praise (FCP) is open to all adults and students ages 12 and over. This two-day event will consist of a rehearsal on Saturday and a performance on Sunday in the beautiful Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. Thanks to a generous gift from the Center for Congregations, the cost of registration is only $20 with an Early Bird discounted half price registration fee of $10.

Included with your registration you will receive music for 12 anthems, lunch on Saturday, a post-concert reception, participant gift, as well as the experience of working with Maestro Pepper Choplin and performing in RSPAC. The entire package is valued at $200 and is limited to the first 160 applicants.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, June 24, 2023

  • 9:15 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. Check in. Receive packet with music and folder, seating assignment, lunch ticket, and participant gift.
  • 10:00 a.m. Rehearsal with Maestro Pepper Choplin.
  • 12:00 p.m. Box lunch provided.
  • 1:00 p.m. Rehearsal with Pepper.
  • 3:00 p.m. Travel home or visit historical sites in Vincennes.
  • 5:00 p.m. Dinner for all choir directors and accompanists with Pepper Choplin.

Sunday, June 25, 2023

  • 12:30 p.m. Doors open at RSPAC for performers.
  • 1:00 p.m. Dress rehearsal on stage.
  • 2:30 p.m. Doors open to the theater for the audience.
  • 3:00 p.m. Festival Choir of Praise in concert with Pepper Choplin.
  • 4:00 p.m. Post-concert reception at RSPAC.

MORE INFORMATION:

TO REGISTER: https://festivalchoirofpraise.rsvpify.com/

  • Or, download, fill out, and mail a paper registration form.

QUESTIONS?

You will receive more information about the festival weekend after you register. If you have any questions before you register, please contact Joyce Kim-Rohrer at swindcantatachoir@gmail.com

2021 Worship & Music Conference

Gather In My Name imageIn-Person Conference Dates:
Week 1: June 20 – 25, 2021
Week 2: June 27 – July 2, 2021
Online Conference Dates:
June 27 – July 2, 2021

 

This year, the conference theme is Gathered in My Name, and fitting with the name, the association is pleased to offer BOTH in-person AND online options for attending the conference! We have assembled a stellar conference faculty that will be offering classes for all interests: musicians, pastors, educators, and church members – anyone interested in collaborative worship. We invite everyone to visit www.presbymusic.org/2021conference to learn more about what we have planned for this summer.

Registration Deadlines
This year, early registration is open through March 31st. On-time registration begins on April 1st and lasts up until the conference begins. There is no late registration period.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions
PAM is committed to offering a safe, in-person option as well as an online option for participating in the conference. Visit our special Covid Protocols webpage to learn more about our commitment to your health and safety as we look forward to worshipping together this summer.

Visit the PAM Website to Learn More!
www.presbymusic.org/2021conference has all the information about what we have in store for you this summer, including: Class Descriptions and Schedule, Conference Faculty, and Registration Information, Policies, and Fees

Salt & Light Choir to Visit Hanover

Press release from Hanover Presbyterian Church:

Salt & Light High School Choir from First Presbyterian Church, Boulder, Colorado has been in existence for about 35 years under the direction of a handful of leaders. Currently under the direction of Jim Keller, it has about 35 members ranging from 9-12 grade and from a total of 6 different high schools. Many of these students are highly talented in the performing arts and participate in their high school choirs. They come together each week to rehearse and eat together and they sing during the contemporary worship two times per month. Every year the choir takes a Tour over spring break and the destinations have ranged from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, WA to Scotland! It is the highlight of the year! In order to make this trip happen the group sets up various fundraising and this year is no exception. In the fall, they chose to set up a Pumpkin Patch in the Courtyard with fall snacks and pumpkin sales. In February they put on a Talent Show called Don’t Stop Believing where various students and friends put together acts to showcase their talents. The audience delighted in the extraordinary and diverse abilities of the Salt & Light High School Choir kids, their friends and family.

This year 20 students will be going on Tour and they will be visiting Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Dayton, Hanover, IN and Louisville. The stop in Dayton will include a visit to Devon Howard (and his wife Kimberly), former First Pres organist and accompanist to Salt & Light, supporters and chaperones. One of the benefits of going on Tour is the relationship building that takes place. The students come back with many stories of how they bonded with one another, developed a closer walk with Jesus, and shared their love of Jesus with others. This trip is truly an epic experience for many and the fact that they give up Spring Break vacation with their families is a testimony to that and their commitment to loving and serving others in the name of Jesus Christ!

Download a flyer for this event.

Faith in Our Music: Many Voices, Diverse Chords, Common Hopes

A music conference for clergy, church musicians, worship committees, and anyone interested in music in the church!  Featuring John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland; Warren Cooper, who writes and performs sacred jazz music; and Amanda Powell, whose specialty is global music.

September 23-25, 2014 ~ Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond Campus ~ $195 for the first two registrants from one church ($150 if registration is received by July 31); $125 for subsequent registrants from the same church. Includes dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday, lunch on Wednesday, and breakfast on Thursday.

Click here for more information and to register for Faith in Our Music:  Many Voices, Diverse Chords, Common Hopes.

Click here for a printable flyer to share with your congregation or denomination.

Concert Saturday evening at Bloomington First

Taifa Mziki
Kenyatta University

Sylvester Makobi, Director
Wilson Shitandi, Director

together with The International Vocal Ensemble
Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

Katherine Strand, Director
Loida Pineda, Assistant Instructor

Present

Building Cultural Bridges through Music and Art

March 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM

First Presbyterian Church, Bloomington Indiana

A note about Taifa Mziki:
Taifa Mziki was founded on 20th February 2010 by Collins Murambi and Sylvester Makobi who also serves as the group’s director. The name of the group means, ‘music which brings people together to make one nation.’ The group’s repertoire is mainly African pop music and folksongs arranged for male voices.

Being one of the best all male choral groups in Kenya, in 2012, the group participated in the first televised choir competition in East Africa, ‘The Kwaya,’ and thrilled fans due to their wonderful and creative performances. In 2011 the group was invited to perform during the premier of the International Student Film Festival held in Nairobi, Kenya. The group has also been performing in various corporate, state functions, and concerts.

Taifa Mziki members, most of them being University students, are involved in a choral music mentorship program in high schools in the country. Through this program, the group encourages young people to join or form choirs. The performances and workshops create a platform for the group to preach peace. The members of the group come from different ethnic communities and use the diversity as an opportunity to learn songs from different languages.

Taifa Mziki aims to be an ambassador of African Music.

New Hymnal Publication Celebration Events

sm_launch_logoHarvey Browne Presbyterian Church (Louisville, KY) is hosting one of the six national hymnal publication events. Join us Mar. 14-15, 2014 for two days of worship, workshops, and lectures. The conference is designed for everyone – pastors, musicians, worship committees, and ecumenical friends. Whether you have adopted the hymnal and want to immerse yourself in the contents, or just want to explore the possibilities within this new songbook, all are welcome.

Martha Moore-Keish and John Wurster will join the members of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song (PCOCS) and Hymnal Project staff as presenters. Focus topics will include global music, how to teach a new hymn, the theology behind the notes, liturgy in Glory to God, and much more!

The $35 registration fee includes two meals, a pew edition of Glory to God, and much more. Register online today: www.presbyterianhymnal.org/launch. Mark your calendars now for this important introduction!

Registration will close on March 3, 2014. A small number of walk-up registrations will be accepted. All Hymn Festivals and worship services are open to the public.