Children’s Choir Festival
2026-02-06 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Children’s Choir Festival
Featuring Joshua Pedde, executive artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, and children’s choirs from St. Louis area Lutheran congregations.

Prevallet Hymn Writing Workshop
2026-02-28 08:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
This Saturday morning workshop is an opportunity for students of Concordia Seminary, as well as other hymn writers and translators, to gather together and learn from an expert in the field about the mechanics and craft of writing hymn texts.
This workshop is offered especially to students of Concordia Seminary to equip them to participate in the annual Pamela Ann Prevallet Hymn Competition*. Although the competition is open to current first, second and vicarage M.Div. students, as well as residential Deaconess Studies students, all Concordia Seminary students may participate in this hymn writing workshop to learn or to sharpen their skills in hymn writing.
This year’s presenters will be:

Dr. Lisa M. Clark is Senior Editor of Curriculum Resources at CPH, and has written hundreds of hymns, many of which have been published at CPH in “One and All Rejoice”, choral anthems and digital resources. She recently completed her doctoral dissertation on hymnody through the University of Bristol (UK). Lisa has also authored a number of books available from CPH, including The Messengers series and several children’s books.
Katie Schuermann is a widely published author and storyteller, with several volumes of fiction to her credit, including: “The Big Father and His Little Boy” (Kloria, 2024); “The Beloved Son and His Brother” (Kloria, 2025); the much beloved “Anthems of Zion” series, including “House of Living Stones” (CPH, 2014), “The Choir Immortal” (CPH, 2015), and “The Harvest Raise” (CPH, 2017); and her latest standalone novel, “The Saints of Whistle Grove” (Kloria, 2023). Her nonfiction books include: “He Remembers the Barren” (LL 2011; 2nd ed., EP 2017); “Pew Sisters” (CPH, 2013); and “He Restores My Soul” (EP, 2018). Katie holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music.
Rev. Dr. Jon D. Vieker, Associate Professor of Practical Theology and Dean of Chapel at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Dr. Vieker was integrally involved in the research, development, editing and production of “Lutheran Service Book” and its core companion volumes, currently teaches worship and hymnology, and has adjudicated a number of hymn competitions over the years.

Schedule

TIME
EVENT

8-8:30 a.m.
Registration, coffee and donuts, meet-and-greet with the presenters

8:30-9:30 a.m.
PresentationDr. Jon ViekerCliffs Notes to Hymn Writing: Exploring “The Anatomy of Hymnody” by Austin C. Lovelace

9:30-9:45 a.m.
Break

9:45-11 a.m.
PresentationKatie SchuermannHymn Writing as Storytelling

11-11:15 a.m.
Break

11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
PresentationLisa M. ClarkHymn Writing as Teaching

12:30-1:30 p.m.
Lunch (on your own)

1-3 p.m.
Optional individual coaching.Participants may bring texts they have been working on to share with the presenters and other hymn writing coaches who will be available.

A copy of “The Anatomy of Hymnody” by Austin C. Lovelace will be provided to each participant at registration.
Presentations will take place in CH-012, located in the lower level of the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. The presentations will also be made available live by Zoom to all vicars and other off-campus students. Free copies of “The Anatomy of Hymnody” will be sent to vicars by email request to Dr. Jon Vieker, Dean of Chapel.
This workshop is free for all Concordia Seminary students and their spouses, and the cost for all others is $15.
Register Competition Criteria

Registration deadline: Feb. 24, 2026

*The Pamela Anne Prevallet Memorial Fund Hymn Competition was created in June 2000 by Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Prevallet in remembrance of their daughter. Though Pamela Anne’s limited abilities prevented her from participating in many things other children could enjoy, it was clear in her short life that music was dear to her, in particular the sound of hymns practiced at home by her mother, a church organist. It is thus fitting that she be remembered in this way. It is also a way of supporting seminary students and encouraging church music and liturgical musical excellence. For many years Mr. Prevallet was chairman of the Seminary’s Board of Regents. His widow, Martha, has served as a church organist for 40 years, and resides in Blytheville, Arkansas.
Eligible applicants to the Prevallet Hymn Competition may apply through the Financial Aid Office. This year’s deadline for applying is Aug. 1, 2026.

A Hymn Festival Featuring the Hymns of Lisa Clark and Katie Schuermann
2026-03-01 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
A Hymn Festival Featuring the Hymns of Lisa Clark and Katie Schuermann
Featuring Laudamus, St. Louis Lutheran Chorale, Concordia Seminary Youth Choir and instrumentalists

Poster

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-14 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Christ Lutheran Church (Brea, CA), 820 W Imperial Hwy, Brea, CA, 92821, United States
Laudamus is a select choir of seminarians preparing for full-time service as pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Under the direction of Dr. Samuel Eatherton, kantor and the Kreft Professor for Music Arts, the choir delights in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. Each year, the choir schedules tours to LCMS churches and schools throughout the country.

Learn more

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-15 08:30 - 09:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | St. John’s Lutheran Church (Orange, CA), 185 S. Center St., Orange, 92866, United States

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-15 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Nixon Presidential Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA, 92886, United States
Laudamus is a select choir of seminarians preparing for full-time service as pastors in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Under the direction of Dr. Samuel Eatherton, kantor and the Kreft Professor for Music Arts, the choir delights in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through music. Each year, the choir schedules tours to LCMS churches and schools throughout the country.

Learn more Ticket information

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-16 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Abiding Savior Lutheran Church (Lake Forest, CA), 23262 El Toro Road, Lake Forest, 92630, United States

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-17 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Bethany Lutheran Church (Long Beach, CA), 4644 Clark Ave., Long Beach, CA, 90808, United States

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-18 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Light of Christ Lutheran Church (Irvine, CA), 18182 Culver Drive, Irvine, 92612, United States

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-19 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Concordia University Irvine, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, CA, 92612

Laudamus Spring 2026 Tour
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States

St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach (1725)
2026-03-29 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach (1725)
Featuring the American Kantorei and Orchestra and the Concordia Seminary Children’s Choir

Choral Evening Prayer for Easter
2026-05-10 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Choral Evening Prayer for Easter
Featuring the Seminary Chamber Choir, Laudamus, St. Louis Lutheran Chorale, Concordia Seminary Children’s Choir, Concordia Seminary Youth Choir and instrumentalists

Service Folder

Summer Carillon Concert
2026-06-02 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Exterior Sites Main Quad, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Carillonneur
Elien Van den Broeck, Meerhout, Belgium

Program

TITLE
COMPOSER

1
Preludium 3
M. Van den Gheyn (1721-1785)

2
Violin sonata I. Allegro II. Largo III. Presto
M. Van den Gheyn (1721-1785), arr. Luc Rombouts

3
Violin Concerto BWV 1041 – Allegretto
J.S. Bach (1685-1750), arr. Liesbeth Janssens

4
You Raise Me Up
R. Lovland (b. 1955), arr. Liesbeth Janssens, Wim Van den Broeck

5
Round
H. Purcell (1659-1695), arr. Liesbeth Janssens, Wim Van den Broeck

6
2 Parts from 3 Miniatures
C. Van Ulft (b. 1961), arr. Liesbeth Janssens

7
Carillon Rap
C. Van Ulft (b. 1961), arr. Liesbeth Janssens

8
Mandoline concerto RV425 I. Allegro II. Largo III. Presto
A. Vivaldi (1678-1741), arr. Liesbeth Janssens

9
Scherzo Etude
E. Van den Broeck (b. 2003)

10
Doctor gradus ad parnassum from “Children’s Corner”
C. Debussy (1862-1918), arr. Roy Kroezen

About the carillonneur:

Elien Van den Broeck (b. 2003) began her carillon studies at the age of 9 in Peer, Belgium, with Erik Vandevoort. At a young age, she won two international carillon competitions (Deinze and St. Amand-les-Eaux), and in her home municipality of Meerhout, Belgium, she received the municipal culture prize for her carillon achievements. Additionally, she is a two-time Belgium champion in karate.
In 2018, at the age of 14, Elien was appointed carillonneur of the abbey carillon in Mol-Postel. In 2020, she graduated from the Royal Carillon School in Mechelen as the youngest carillonneur ever and has since performed concerts worldwide.

Summer Carillon Concert
2026-06-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Exterior Sites Main Quad, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Carillonneur
Wesley Arai, Los Angeles, California

Program

TITLE
COMPOSER

1
To a Red Rose (from “Three Roses”)
Florence Price (1887-1953), arr. Wesley Arai

2
Edelweiss (from “The Sound of Music”)
Richard Rodgers (1902-1979), arr. Koen van Assche

3
Sunflower Slow Drag, a Ragtime Two-Step
Scott Joplin (1868-1917), arr. Wesley Arai

4
The Sacredness of Trees
Ellen Lindquist (b.1970)

5
Three Etudes for Carillon I. Paced, almost hurried II. Slowly, almost lost III. With drive
Stephen Rush (b. 1958)

6
Here Comes the Sun
George Harrison (1943-2001), arr. Carson Landry

7
Another Day of Sun (from “La La Land”)
Justin Hurwitz (b. 1985), Benj Pasek (b. 1985) and Justin Paul (b. 1985), arr. Joey Brink

8
Clair de Lune (from “Suite Bergamesque”)
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), arr. Bernard Winsemius

9
Moon River
Henry Mancini (1924-1994), arr. Richard Giszczak

10
Bethena, a Concert Waltz
Scott Joplin (1868-1917), arr. Wesley Arai

11
Bell Canto
Geert D’hollander (b. 1965)

About the carillonneur:

Wesley Arai serves as university carillonneur at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he performs regularly on the 61-bell Storke Tower carillon and maintains an active carillon studio. He studied carillon with Jeff Davis at the University of California, Berkeley, where he received bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and statistics with a minor in music. While earning a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles, Wesley continued to play the carillon and subsequently passed the advancement examination of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.
An active recitalist, Wesley has performed extensively across the United States and abroad, most recently performing in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Other recent performances include recitals in Australia, the dedicatory recital for the carillon at the University of Washington, and performances at the Berkeley Carillon Festival, the Congress of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, the Springfield International Carillon Festival, the Perpignan International Carillon Festival and the Barcelona International Carillon Festival. Wesley is also an annual recitalist at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Spokane, Wash., and is a frequent recitalist at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif.
In addition to the carillon, Wesley has studied piano, trombone and voice, and has performed in a number of different concert bands, marching bands, jazz bands, orchestras and choral groups. He enjoys arranging music and occasionally performs some of his own arrangements on the carillon. Wesley’s day job is as an actuary.

Summer Carillon Concert
2026-06-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Exterior Sites Main Quad, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Carillonneur
Jesse Ratcliffe, Warrenton, Virginia

Program

TITLE
COMPOSER

1
Golden Bells from Second Suite for Carillon
Robert Kleinschmidt (1919-1959)

2
Let Freedom Ring
Lee Cobb (b. 1963)

3
Thou Hast Left Me Ever, Jamie
LaSalle Spier (1889-1982)

4
Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle
John Courtier (1941-2010)

5
A Might Fortress is Our God
arr. Albert Gerken

6
O God Our Help in Ages Past
John Knox (1932-2021)

7
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
arr. Courter

8
Waltz, Op. 32, No. 2
J. Brahms (1833-1897), arr. C.T. Chapman (1904-1986)

9
Pas de Fleurs from Lakmé
Clément Philibert Léo Delibes (1836-1891), arr. Geert D’hollander (b. 1960)

10
Toccata from Suite Gothique
Leon Boellman (1862-1897), arr. Emilien Allard (1915-1976)

11
Stargazing from Music at Twilight
Frank Della Penna (b. 1951)

12
Lullaby
Wendell Westcott (1911-2010)

13
Childhood Memories
Cobb

14
When You Wish Upon a Star
Leigh Harline (1907-1969), arr. Richard Giszczak

15
Peacherine Rag
Scott Joplin (1868-1917), arr. Janet Dundore (1920-2005)

16
The Star-Spangled Banner
arr. Milford Myhre (b. 1930)

About the carillonneur:

Jesse Ratcliffe is a native of Hinton, W.Va., a graduate of Concordia University, Athens, W.Va. (BA); Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Va. (MM); and the North American Carillon School, Springfield, Ill. (Performance Diploma). Additionally, he has completed post-graduate studies at Westminster Choir College. In June 2019, he became a carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA). His work as a recitalist has been heard in numerous venues, but most notably during the Edinburgh International Music Festival (2014); the Thomas Rees International Carillon Festival in Springfield, Ill. (2018); and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C. (2025). Ratcliffe is the director of music and organist at Saint James’ Episcopal Church in Warrenton, Va., and a freelance carillonneur.

Summer Carillon Concert
2026-06-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Exterior Sites Main Quad, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Carillonneur
Alan Bowman, Dayton, Ohio

Program

TITLE
COMPOSER

1
Air (from “Water Music”)
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), arr. A. Bowman

2
Sonata for violin and continuo, No. 12 I. Aria – allegro II. Siciliano – largo III. Aria – presto
Matthias Vanden Gheyn (1721-1785), arr. L. Rombouts

3
Largo (“Arioso”, BWV 1056)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. K. Van Assche

4
Les Sylvains(The Fauns)
Cecile Chaminade (1857-1944), arr. A. Bowman

5
Serenade for Carillon I. Processional II. “A Whimsy” (Promenade No. 2) III. Barcarolle
Ronald Barnes (1927-1997)

6
Spring Morning
Geert d’Hollander (b. 1965)

7
Moonlight in Bok Tower Gardens (Image no. 10)
Stephano Colletti (b. 1973)

8
From “Carmen” I. Toreador Song II. Habanera
Georges Bizet (1838-1875), arr. E. Uten

9
What a Wonderful World
George David Weiss and Bob Thiele, arr. T. Laue

About the carillonneur:

Alan Bowman is a carillonneur at Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio, and at the Mary M. Emery Memorial Carillon in Mariemont, Ohio.
Alan received his bachelor’s degree in systems analysis with a minor in piano performance from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (1988). He also received a Master of Music with a major in organ performance from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. (2005). He worked in Florida for 25 years as director of music in Lutheran, Anglican and Roman Catholic churches.
In 2023, Alan received his diploma from the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Mechelen, Belgium, and performed concerts in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and the United States. He has served as the Blanchard Carillon Fellow at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Fla. (2023-24, 2025), and is a carillonneur and board member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA).

Summer Carillon Concert
2026-06-30 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Exterior Sites Main Quad, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO, 63105, United States
Carillonneur
Elijah Harrison Buerk, Metropolis, Ill.

About the carillonneur:

Elijah Harrison Buerk is a carillonist, composer, conductor, organist and pianist based in Bloomington, Ind. Buerk is the university carillonist and instructor of carillon at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in composition and organ performance and is pursuing a Master of Music in organ performance. An experienced church musician, he serves as director of music and organist at First Presbyterian Church in Martinsville, Ind.
Buerk is active as a concert organist and piano accompanist and has performed in recitals across the country, from Baton Rouge, La., to Chicago, Ill., and beyond. He also is an active composer whose works range from instrumental solo pieces to a requiem for choir, chamber orchestra and organ.
Buerk is the artistic and music director of Centralia Opera, a nonprofit organization in his hometown of Centralia, Ill., dedicated to bringing opera to the region. With Centralia Opera, he has led full productions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” and Giacomo Puccini’s “La Bohème.”
