Presenters

Presenters


Norma Aamodt-Nelson
Trinity Lutheran Chruch
Lynnwood, WA
  • Focus: Mentors and Volunteers as Faith Builders
Norma Aamodt-Nelson is Minister of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, WA where she administers a multi-faceted lay-led choral and instrumental music program and serves as organist. In addition, she teaches for Trinity Lutheran College in Everett and is Acquisitions Editor of Instrumental Music for Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Active in ALCM since its inception, she is completing her second term as Region IV president. Her degrees were earned from Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Iowa, where her mentors were David Dahl, Paul Manz, Delbert Disselhorst and Delores Bruch. When she isn't making music, she might be walking Willy (her Westie) by Puget Sound, knitting, or reading a great novel.


Katie Adelman
Victory Lutheran Church
Mesa, AZ
  • Focus: Personal Faith: “Finding True North”
Ms. Adelman is a co-founder and President of Breakthrough! Inc., an Associate in Ministry in the Lutheran tradition, and currently serves as an Interim Pastor at Victory Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin with an undergraduate degree in organ performance, and a Master of Theology degree from Seattle University Institute for Theological Studies. Ms. Adelman is a licensed Spiritual Director and an experienced teacher and seminar leader with 30 years experience teaching faith and life skills that support healthy, joyful, and productive life-styles.


Carole Lea Arenson
Gathering Chair
Tempe, AZ
  • Pre-Gathering: Director of Children’s Choir with numerous topics
  • Focus: Nurturing Faith – Children and Youth
  • Focus: Faith Builders – Mentors and Volunteers
Carole Lea Arenson served as the Director of Music Ministry at King of Glory Lutheran Church (KOG) in Tempe, Arizona for over 35 years. She began with a vision of “Helping Children Become and Remain Life-Long Worship Participants”. She started with 12 people in one choir and, with help, developed KOG’s Music Ministry to include choirs for all age groups plus instrumental ensembles and a music education course for children. Carole grew up in Minnesota and is a graduate of St. Olaf College. She taught choral music in the public schools of New York, Connecticut and Iowa and at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, before coming to Arizona. Carole is known as a conductor, soloist, writer, arranger, educator, worship leader, consultant, clinician, and a writer of curriculum, including the Alleluia Series and the Carole Series. She is published by Augsburg-Fortress, Kjos Music and Lorenz Publishing. Her work with an inter-denominational Worship Task Force culminated in the publication of her first children’s book, “Boots, the Church Cat”, featuring KOG’s real church cat. Carole has served on the St. Olaf College Alumni Board, the National Board of Directors for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) and on an Ecumenical Worship Task Force sponsored by Choristers Guild; chaired ALCM Regional Conferences; co-chaired a National ALCM Video Project advocating for congregational support for children in worship, “Empowered to Join the Song”, which won a national award; a writer for Augsburg's Sundays & Seasons (2009), is editor of the ALCM Region IV Newsletter and now chairs the Gathering in Boulder 2010.


Joy Berg
Concordia College
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
  • Pre-Gathering Focus: Watery Beginnings: The Journey with Children and Youth in Worship
  • Focus: Faith in the Canadian Landscape
My name is Joy Berg. I grew up in the three western Canadian provinces by relocating with my father who was an ELCiC pastor. So I claim the whole western Canada as my home! I have always made music in the church from family singing to playing the services to singing in the choirs to conducting choirs.

I received degrees in piano performance, elementary school education, and choral conducting here in Canada, as well as a doctorate in choral conducting from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. I have worked part-time and full-time as a church musician in several churches in both Canada and the United States. Currently, part of my work at Concordia is as chapel cantor, which I find very fulfilling but also very different from being a church musician.

I find I am relishing the times when I get back into the Sunday morning leadership be it on the organ/piano bench or conducting choirs when someone needs a guest conductor for a day! The creative work of forming a service with other leaders is fulfilling. There is joy in the task of striving towards a cohesive whole as we link pieces of the service and the theme together. And I love working with people who give of their talents towards worship and honor of God.

Presently, I teach full-time at Concordia (Edmonton) in the School of Music as an Associate Professor, conducting the choirs, teaching church music classes and music history classes, as well as being the chapel cantor. I also enjoy singing with the semi-professional choir in Edmonton, ProCoro Canada, and have many friends in this group.

I feel honored to be asked to be part of this Regional Gathering Community. I very much value what the ALCM offers both in gathering times as well as in written communications. It will be both educational and fulfilling to be part of this planning group for the event right from the beginning. I expect to enjoy the people, the process and the “product”. I look forward to getting into all of these areas with this committee.

And I hope to see you in Boulder in 2010!


Kim Cramer
St. Luke Lutheran Church
Mesa, AZ
  • Forum: Beyond Worship Labels (includes a Worship Band)
My name is Kim Cramer and I’m the Director of Music at St Luke Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. I’m excited to be part of the committee for “The Gathering” in Boulder in 2010. My background is quite diverse since I also teach elementary physical education part time, am a high school volleyball official and travel 4-5 times a year to be on staff for National Scholastic Chess tournaments. This summer I’m involved in helping organize the National Association of Sports Officials Summit in Tucson, AZ.

To be involved in the planning committee of “The Gathering” allows me to help bring diversity to ALCM. I’m very passionate about the many changes in the church and worship and feel we need to embrace those church musicians who may not be in the ‘traditional’ setting and help equip them through our conferences.

Join us in Boulder to be spiritually uplifted, challenged and have the opportunity to grow professionally.


Bradley Ellingboe
University of New Mexico
Alberqueque, NM
  • Choral Reading Session: New Music
  • Focus: How to Turn a Hymn into an Anthem
  • Sing!: Choral Director
  • Evensong: Choral Director with local adult choir singers
Bradley Ellingboe has been on the faculty of the University of New Mexico since 1985, where he is Professor of Music and Regents Lecturer. In the fall of 2005 Ellingboe stepped down from his post as Head of the Voice Area and assumed the title of Director of Choral Activities. He is a graduate of Saint Olaf College and the Eastman School of Music and has done further study at the Aspen Music Festival, the Bach Aria Festival, the University of Oslo and the Vatican.

Ellingboe is well known as a composer of choral music, with over 100 pieces in print. His choral music is widely sung and is published by Oxford, Augsburg, Walton, Hal Leonard, Mark Foster, Choristers Guild, Concordia, and particularly the Kjos Music Company, for whom he edits two series of choral octavos. His largest work, the Requiem for choir and orchestra, was premiered in 2002. Since its premiere it has been performed over 100 times across the United States. In June of 2010 the Requiem had its Carnegie Hall debut with Ellingboe conducting. His music has been performed and recorded by such groups as the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Philip Brunelle’s VocalEssence, the Saint Olaf Choir, the Harvard Glee Club, Craig Hella Johnson’s Conspirare, and the choirs of the University of Michigan and Luther College, among many others.

He has prepared choirs for such luminaries as Dave Brubeck, Moses Hogan, Alice Parker, Morten Lauridsen and Robert Ray. Ellingboe has led festival choirs and workshops in 36 states and 10 European countries. In 2007 he became "Maestro del Coro" for the International Lyric Academy in Viterbo, Italy. In May of 2008, he made his Carnegie Hall debut, conducting Faure’s Requiem. An active church musician, Ellingboe was Director of Music at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Albuquerque from 1990-2009. He has given workshops for the AGO, PAM, ALCM, and NPM. He has been on the summer faculties of Saint Olaf College, Southern Methodist University and the Montreat Conference Center, among many others. As a bass-baritone soloist, Ellingboe has sung across the United States and in Japan, Korea, Norway, England and Mexico. He has appeared under such distinguished conductors as Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling and Sir David Willcocks.

In 2005 Ellingboe joined the national board of the Chorister's Guild. The UNM University Chorus, which Ellingboe has directed since 1985, won the Albuquerque Arts Alliance "Bravos Award" for musical excellence in 2006. In 2008 the UNM Alumni Association named him Faculty of the Year.

Professor Ellingboe is the editor of Choral Music for Sundays and Seasons (2004), published by Augsburg Fortress Press. He is also editor of two books of songs by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg which have been widely hailed as significant additions to the understanding of Grieg. For his efforts on behalf of Norwegian music, Ellingboe was awarded the Medal of Saint Olav by His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.


Jerry Gunderson
All Saints Lutheran Church
Phoenix, AZ
I grew up in the rural Minnesota town of Hoffman, where my high school graduating class of 33 students was one of the "big classes"! It was great to grow up in a peaceful little town, and it still is “home” whenever I visit.

I studied choral/vocal music at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, where I met and married a delightful and talented pastor's daughter from Montana. Karin and I spent 10 years in Minneapolis, where we served Redeemer Lutheran Church as Music Directors, and enjoyed singing with the National Lutheran Choir.

I have served at All Saints as Director of Worship and Music in Phoenix, AZ since 1993. I have primary responsibility for planning liturgy and music, leading worship as organist/pianist/cantor, and directing the Sanctuary Choir, Handbell Choirs, Teen Choir, and three intergenerational instrumental ensembles that regularly support hymns and liturgy: All Saints’ Brass Ensemble, Woodwind/String Ensemble, and Guitar/Percussion Ensemble. I love rich and meaningful liturgical worship, vibrant congregational singing, and creating beautiful music with choirs and instrumentalists.

There is lots of music-making in the Gunderson family. Karin and daughter Joy (18) are harpists, vocalists and flutists who participate regularly in worship and concerts, and son Ryan (12) is a pianist who loves to improvise. When I’m not busy with music, I enjoy cooking and hiking, spending time with family, concerts, movies and “Ole and Lena” jokes, and (not often enough) I play an occasional round of golf with Ryan.

I served four years as ALCM Region IV President. I have also served on several conference planning committees, and I enjoy the friendships and the sharing of ideas that are part of ALCM conference planning teams.

The Boulder Gathering will be a great time for learning, encouragement, inspiration, and building relationships that can become lifelong friendships. I’ll see you there!


Valerie Hess
Trinity Lutheran Church
Boulder, CO
www.valeriehess.com
  • Focus: Personal Faith: “Finding True North”
  • Morning Prayer
I am so excited that you will be coming to my home church, Trinity Lutheran, here in Boulder, Colorado. I am Coordinator of Music Ministries and Organist in this thriving downtown congregation. I've been at Trinity for over 12 years. My husband has been a pastor at First Presbyterian Church here in Boulder for the last 25 years. We live in the cottage in Chautauqua Park where he spent much of his childhood, an exciting National Historic Landmarked area that you will visit Tuesday evening of the Gathering for dinner and a concert (either inside the famous Chautauqua Auditorium or under the stars with the large "outdoor blanket audience"). I get to show you both where I work and where I live, a real treat for me personally.

I also write and speak on the Spiritual Disciplines and have two books in print about their practical use in our daily lives and with children. I teach part-time in the Masters of Spiritual Formation and Leadership Program (MSFL) for Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. (I love the Internet!) I am also finishing a 6-year term on the National Board for the Leadership Program for Musicians (LPM) which I know many of you have been involved in. I would love to talk to you if you are interested in learning more about this program that helps musicians, with maybe less training than they would like to have, lead worship and music more effectively in their congregation. It is a great follow-up venue for all the great ideas you will get at the Gathering. We can do that over meals or on the Tuesday night hike option that will start in Chautauqua and move into the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks area that surrounds it.

I have a M.M. in Church Music and Organ from Valparaiso University. In addition to playing the organ and all of the other usual church music and worship planning activities I am privileged to be a part of (though I don't conduct our Adult choir), I lead both the Worship Team (a more "contemporary" group) and the Trinity Consort (a recorder group with harpsichord). I think it is an exciting time, though not an easy one, to be a church musician. There are so many challenges but lots of room for creativity, too. That is why I think this Gathering for ALCM Region IV and friends will be so useful. I like conferences that speak to "life in the trenches" and this one will certainly do that.

I am on the hosting committee for the conference as well as on the steering committee. We are doing all we can to roll out the red carpet here in Boulder (at the most reasonable cost we can do it for)! We are going to have some unusual opportunities for interaction, learning, engaging, and refreshment. And, Boulder is close to all kinds of great vacation spots here in Colorado so you can come early or stay late.

I so look forward to seeing all of you next summer! It will be a great event and I am honored to be a part of putting it together.


Thomas Keesecker
American Lutheran Church
Billings, MT
  • Composer: Open Gathering Song
  • Focus: How to Turn a Hymn into an Anthem
In 2005, the large Catholic church (in Bel Air, Maryland), I was serving granted me a three month sabbatical to recharge my batteries. I had wanted to get back to serving an ELCA congregation and while looking over the ALCM job listings during that time I saw an announcement for the position I currently have in Billings, Montana. It seems I had spent my entire life on the I-95 corridor and the thought of moving out West had a certain appeal to it. I think too I was probably in some mid-life crisis thing and just wanted to make a change. Of course most of my friends (and my wife) thought I was crazy. So, in September 2005, after selling our house in one day in Maryland, I started my new position as Director of Worship and Music at American Lutheran Church in Billings.

Most of you know me through my published compositions. Simply put: I like to play with notes. I recall my high school music theory class from the early 70’s. We were a bunch of wannabe rock stars shepherded by our instructor who was probably just a few years older than us. She had long red hair and she acknowledged all of our creations with equal consideration, the same way a mother would. Her name was Miss Scripture. I am not kidding. She encouraged me to write down my piano improvisations and figure out what I was trying to play.

After high school, I went to Berklee in Boston for two years and then returned home to Northern Virginia. In December 1976, another influential woman came into my life - my future wife, Patricia. Her mother was the head of the Music and Worship Committee at their (LCA) church. (While writing this I keep humming the song that was a #1 hit in 1961 – Mother-In Law.) Mrs. Baker was a tough Texas sweetie and before too long I was on the organ and piano bench at Good Shepherd Lutheran. Tricia and I were married in December, 1979. This year is our thirty year anniversary.

I went to the Catholic University of America School of Music as a composition major. I commuted 70 miles a day to Washington DC for four years. Charlie Callahan was getting his DMA at the time and I was fortunate to have him give me organ lessons. Playing the Aeolian-Skinner at his downtown church was an experience.

I’ve been blessed over the years to be surrounded by people who have encouraged my creativity, from my wife to my choir members and my editors. This urge to create feels at times almost like a curse when I can not stop polishing a piece I’m working on. Maybe I’m compulsive. I do acknowledge that creativity and music making are gifts from God. I connect to other people through the gifts God has given me. Those of us who serve the liturgical arts know this burden and blessing. The demands on today’s liturgical musicians are complex. Gatherings such as the one we’re planning are our times to learn and share.

See you in Boulder.


Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer
Ascension Lutheran Church
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
  • Pre-Gathering Focus: Watery Beginnings: The Journey with Children and Youth in Worship
  • Focus: Faith in the Canadian Landscape
Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer is a recent graduate of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. His thesis focused on renewing baptismal spirituality and particularly a daily remembrance of dying and rising. Nothing energizes Larry like planning and preparing worship for Synod conventions, conference events and for Ascension Lutheran Church, Edmonton, Canada where he serves with and among the congregation as parish pastor. Larry is currently using his music skills as conductor of the Ascension Lutheran Church’s choir. See you in Boulder!


Dr. Joyce Shupe Kull
Grace Lutheran Church
Boulder, CO
Dr. Joyce Shupe Kull is Director of Music and Organist at Grace Lutheran Church, Boulder. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Organ Performance and Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where her dissertation on J. S. Bach’s, Clavier-Übung, Part III was awarded the Chancellor’s Dissertation Award in the Arts and Humanities for 1984. From July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004, Dr. Kull served as interim Director of Music and Organist at Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral, Denver. In addition to conducting the Cathedral Choir, she performed frequently as a solo organist on the cathedral’s historic Platt Rogers Kimball pipe organ.

Dr. Kull was a founding Board member and performer for five years in the Denver Bach Society, and she performed with the Boulder Bach Festival for over ten years. On March 6, 2009, at First Congregational Church, Boulder, she will perform the larger chorale preludes and the Prelude and Fugue in E-flat from Bach’s Clavier-Übung, Part III as the featured organist for the Boulder Bach Festival.

She has published articles on Bach performance in The American Organist and in the Denver Chapter American Guild of Organists National Convention Book. She frequently writes articles on topics related to Guild Certification as well. A member of the Anglican Association of Musicians, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Guild of Organists, she holds the AGO Fellowship (FAGO) and Choir Master (ChM) Certificates. A former Director of the AGO Committee on Professional Certification, this Spring she was elected AGO National Councillor for Education. Her portfolio includes four AGO Education Committees, and she also serves on the AGO Executive Council.

In addition to performing, she teaches organ and harpsichord at Metropolitan State College, Denver, presents lectures and workshops and maintains a private organ and harpsichord teaching practice.

“As authoritative as she is musical.” The American Organist


Gerry Luethi
Atonement Lutheran Church
Boulder, CO
  • Focus: Handbell Repertorie and Demonstration (with Boulder ringers)
My present church position is “Associate Director of Music” at Atonement Lutheran Church in Boulder, Colorado. My job involves the keyboard portion of our music ministry (organ and piano) and being the director of a 13 ringer handbell choir. Church was the place I personally experienced music and where I have chosen to serve God for all of my life. I am old enough to retire, but have not taken that step as yet. I am working with an excellent music director whose choir thrills my heart. My singer husband feels the same way, so we will serve as long as we are able at Atonement.

I am a graduate of the University of Colorado, with a Bachelor of Music with honor in piano performance. I studied organ with E. J. Hilty at CU at a later time, on a private coaching basis, and also developed a handbell program at my church under his tutelage. I served as a staff accompanist at CU for nearly ten years. I continue to play classical piano as an avocation and work extensively as a vocal and instrumental accompanist in the Boulder area.

E. J. Hilty was an early and honored member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers and has composed many award-winning pieces for handbells. In 1990 he joined with my music engraver husband and me in forming Flagstaff Publishing. We hold many of E. J’s copyrights and have many other fine handbell composers represented in our catalog.

I attended my first ALCM conference last summer in San Francisco. I was impressed with the superb quality of worship, playing, singing, and the thought provoking words from the key-note speaker. I am eager to help plan an experience in 2010 in Boulder that will be equally as inspiring.

See you in Boulder!


Ann Sponberg Peterson
Luther College
Decorah, IA
  • Focus: Project Fund-raising 101: Understanding the Fundamentals
Ann Sponberg Peterson serves Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, as director of development for principal gifts and as co-director of The Sesquicentennial Fund. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Colorado, Peterson joined the Luther development team in 2005 after years of living in the Boston area, where she served as vice president for advancement of Lutheran Social Services of New England, vice president for development at Regis College, and senior director of development at Suffolk University and Law School. Prior to moving east, she was director of annual giving at Gustavus. Peterson is active in ALDE, the Association of Lutheran Development Executives; MPGC, the Minnesota Planned Giving Council; and currently serves as board chair for the ELCA Foundation (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). She is a frequent speaker and has been in development for 17 years.


Pastor Ron Roschke
Grace Lutheran Church
Boulder, CO
Pastor Ron Roschke has served Grace since September 1996. A 1970 graduate of Valparaiso University and a 1974 graduate of Concordia Seminary in Exile, he comes to Grace having served in a wide spectrum of previous parish settings:
  • 1974-81 - St. Martin Lutheran Church, Piper, Kansas, and St. John Lutheran Church, Easton, Kansas
  • 1981-92 - Peace Lutheran Church, Manhattan, Kansas
  • 1992-96 - Saint Peter's Church, New York City

Pastor Roschke has served the greater church through work in adult and theological education, as well as worship. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago from 1985 to 1993, and chaired the Board 1989-92. He currently serves as chair of the Companion Synod Committee of the Rocky Mountain Synod—ELCA, coordinating work with the church's partner synods in the Lutheran church in Madagascar.

He also has held membership in the Society of Biblical Literature since 1982 and has served on the steering committee of The Bible in Ancient and Modern Media Group. He has contributed as a writer to periodicals such as Currents in Theology in Mission and Listening, as well as an author for worship materials in Sundays and Seasons and reviewer for Evangelical Lutheran Worship and accompanying resource materials, published by Augsburg Fortress Press. His devotional materials appeared in the 2008 edition of Bread for the Day, also published by Augsburg Fortress. He currently serves as adjunct professor at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, teaching a course on Lutheran Theological Identity.

His wife, Marci, has her own business supporting the running community in Boulder. Ron and Marci have two adult children, Sarah and Ben.


Timothy Snyder
Atonement Lutheran Church
Boulder, CO
Greetings from Boulder, Colorado!

We are delighted that Boulder will be the host for the 2010 ALCM Region IV Gathering. I want to personally take this opportunity to invite you to join us for what I am sure will be a refreshing and spirit-filled time together next summer.

Home to the University of Colorado, Boulder is a vibrant college town of 70,000 year-round residents and some 25,000 students. Known for its natural and cultural beauty (and refreshing quirkiness—sometimes called “25 square miles surrounded by reality!”), Boulder is located 25 miles northwest of Denver at a mile-high altitude of 5,430 feet and is nestled against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Walking and biking is the preferred form of transport here, and you will find the city easily accessible on foot or public transport. Miles of trails crisscross the town and continue into the mountains west of the downtown area where our Gathering will be centered.

I am in my tenth year at Atonement Lutheran (ELCA) in Boulder where I serve as Director of Worship and Music. I am Artistic Director of the Boulder Chorale, an umbrella community choral arts organization comprising three ensembles: a graded children’s choral program, an 80-voice adult ensemble called the Boulder Camerata, and an open-to-all mixed community chorale.

My studies in music were completed at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (M.M.) and University of Colorado (D.M.A.). I was involved with the introduction of the ELW resources at the synod level and together with a team of clergy and musicians have led workshops on ELW materials in congregations throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod. My choral compositions are published with Shawnee Press, Hinshaw and Santa Barbara Music. My passion is choral singing, especially in leading the assembly’s song in worship. I am fortunate to serve at Atonement with talented colleagues Gerry Luethi, organist and handbell specialist, and Kathy Stith, our early childhood music education specialist. Together with them and the Region IV team, I look forward to welcoming you to Boulder in 2010 and being fed by our time together.

Do join us in Boulder!


Helen Thoenes
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Oro Valley, AZ
  • Pre-Gathering: Presenter
  • Focus: Nurturing Faith – Children and Youth
  • Forum: Beyond Worship Labels (includes a Worship Band)
Greetings to all from sunny Arizona! My name is Helen Thoenes and I am currently serving as Director of Worship Arts at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oro Valley, Arizona. I have served a total of 15 years in this faith community with involvements for more than 20 years.

I am a born-and-raised Tucson Lutheran who attended school at the University of Arizona and graduated with a BA in music education. I work with both children and adults in many ways in my call to ministry, all of which center around worshiping God through the arts. I am extremely blessed to have been called to ministry. I love God. I love people. I love worship. I love the arts. ‘Nuff said.

I am married with three boys (20, 16 &14) and I love to run, read, sleep, eat, and work.

I said “yes” to participating in the planning of our ALCM Region IV Gathering in Boulder 2010 for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that saying “no” to Carole Arenson is out of the question! But also, because I am and born-and-raised Tucson Lutheran (i.e. – a Lutheran who hails from the Southwest and not the Midwest), my experience of worship is different from perhaps many other Lutherans. Different not better or worse. I am passionate about providing opportunities for worshipers to become aware of being in the presence of God, regardless of the vehicle used to facilitate that awareness. I try to avoid getting all balled up about “contemporary” vs. “traditional” or other land-mine terms. God has called me to love people and to help them experience the transforming love and grace of God. The arts are my tool. They are not “IT”, but they help me know, understand, relate to God and provide me a way to help others to do the same. I want to know more about how to do this and I believe all of us who are interested in meaningful worship want to know also. I am hopeful that this gathering might be the start of some different and life changing conversations which does need to happen in the church of today.

And so, like the others on this team, I personally issue a call to you: come join us as we explore where and how God is leading the church and each of us as leaders in God’s church. Come be a part of the change we all hope to see! I’m confident that Boulder will hold many grace-filled moments for those of us who are open to experiencing those moments!

See you in 2010!


Erik Whitehill
Tempe, AZ
  • Pre-Gathering: Presenter
  • Focus: Nurturing Faith – Children and Youth
  • Composer: Opening Gathering Children's Choir Anthem
I am a Midwestern transplant to Arizona (like most of the people in the state). I grew up in Council Bluffs, Iowa and received my B.A. in music education at Luther College in Decorah, IA. I moved to Tempe to take to the position of Associate Director of Music Ministry at King of Glory Lutheran Church, a position that I held for 11 years (‘96 – ‘07). I am currently in my second year as choir director and guitar teacher at Gililland Middle School in Tempe. I also have music published by Augsburg Fortress and Falls House Press (Theodore Presser).

My time at King of Glory was extremely formative for me. It was an intense experience that I have often likened to jumping on a speeding freight train (I think it could also be called “good” crazy). My position included: directing kindergarten and middle school choirs, coordinating 1st – 6th grade music education, directing two handbell choirs and co-directing the high school choir, in addition to worship planning, accompanying, arranging/composing, leading retreat music/worship and publications formatting/layout. Along the way, through countless hours of spiritual journeying, relationship building, prayer and much music making, I found two areas for which I have a strong passion: 1) helping people grow into life-long worship participants and leaders, 2) arranging and writing music which matches the intent and talents of the people in our midst.

I keep busy (when I am not teaching) with composition projects (sacred and secular) and a lot of accompanying. I have especially enjoyed playing pit piano for local high school theater productions these last few years. I also enjoy reading while floating around in my pool and my Nintendo Wii (though not simultaneously).

I said “yes” to serving on the Region IV Gathering Committee because I have seen the immense value that comes from ALCM regional conferences. As format/layout editor of the Region IV Newsletter, it seems fitting for me to be involved with the design and layout for the gathering printed materials. Region IV is unique. Region IV knows how to put together for a worthwhile experience. Region IV needs you.

Consider yourself invited to beautiful Boulder in 2010!


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