Concordia Seminary will offer its 17th Annual Schola Cantorum: An Adult Choir Member Workshop, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009. 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. Kurt von Kampen will serve as this year’s clinician.

Dr. Kurt E. von Kampen has been conducting choirs at Concordia University, Nebraska, since the fall of 1998, and is the fourth conductor in the 68-year history of the University A Cappella Choir. Prior to accepting the position at Concordia University, von Kampen served as head of the choral program at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Mich., and as director of music at Lutheran High School Westland and Northwest in the Detroit area. He holds a bachelor of science degree in music education from Concordia University in Seward, Neb.; a master of music degree in choral conducting from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.; and a Ph.D. in choral music education from the University of Nebraska.

“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. 23, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the session, von Kampen will guide participants through an evening of choral and instrumental song in which he 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. 16, 2009). 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].