Concordia Seminary will offer its 16th Annual Schola Cantorum: An Adult Choir Member Workshop, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008. The workshop will be held in The Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus and the Clara and Spencer Werner Auditorium on the Seminary campus.

The Schola Cantorum is open to all choir members, choir directors and ministers of music. The schedule for the day begins with registration at 8:15 a.m., Morning Prayer 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. Dr. Gail Walton will serve as this year’s clinician.

Dr. Gail Walton is director of Music at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame since 1988 where she directs the Basilica Schola and the University’s Liturgical Choir (an ensemble of 60 undergraduate and graduate students). Dr. Walton holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and the Eastman School of Music, where she earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance. The Eastman School also awarded her the prestigious performer’s certificate in organ. She has studied with David Craighead, Russell Saunders, William Hays, Gladys Christiansen and Andre Marchal. Dr. Walton comes to us with a great deal of experience leading liturgical choirs.

“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 will also learn better the art of singing. Each of our clinicians provides great insights into singing the praises of our Lord.”

This year, a Choral Reading Session will be held Friday, Jan. 18, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the session, Walton will guide participants through an evening of choral and instrumental song in which she 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.

The cost for the Schola Cantorum is $60 per individual or $110 per congregation ($70 or $125 after Jan. 11). For the congregation fee, a choir can send as many members as it desires. Lunch and the choral music are not included in the fee. For more information or registration forms, call 314-505-7486 or e-mail [email protected].