News Archive
The LSM Winter Session Begins!
Monday, January 11th marked the first day of the inaugural LSM Winter Session!
After 16 private lessons took place during the day, our Winter Session Community joined together for an Opening Meeting where students broke into small groups with peers to get to know one another, met their department faculty, and learned more about what to expect the next four weeks!
LSM Winter Session at a Glance
81 Students
22 States
23 Faculty
300+ Private Lessons
Introducing Dr. Sangeeta Swamy- Music Therapy
Intro to Music Therapy at LSM
As an increasing number of LSM alumni go on to pursue Music Therapy as a major and career, including several from the Class of 2020, LSM will now provide a way for high school students to learn more about using their gifts to serve in this important and growing profession. For many years, LSM students have expressed a desire and curiosity to learn more about the practice of Music Therapy and we are thrilled that LSM will be a place for high school musicians to pursue this interest!
About Dr. Sangeeta Swamy
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sangeeta Swamy to the LSM Faculty to teach Intro to Music Therapy at the LSM Winter Session as well as LSM 2021!
Dr. Sangeeta Swamy is Assistant Professor and Director of Music Therapy at Valparaiso University, where she teaches music therapy courses, violin, and viola. An award-winning violinist, licensed psychotherapist, and Board-Certified Music Therapist, she has worked with children, teens and adults for over twenty-five years.
As a music therapy educator, she specializes in culturally responsive music therapy practice, supervision, and pedagogy. She has taught at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Lesley University, and Molloy College, where she supervised expressive arts therapy and music therapy interns and taught core expressive arts and music therapy undergraduate and graduate courses. She has also lectured nationally and internationally, and has published in Music Therapy Perspectives, the New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy, and in peer reviewed chapters. She is currently the co-editor of The Handbook of Music Therapy, to be published by Routledge in 2019. She also has Level II training in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music and has studied shamanism with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. Through her research with Indian adults, she developed Culturally Centered Music and Imagery (CCMI), the first qualitative, music-centered technique for assessing ethnic identity.
Learn more about Dr. Swamy by reading her Full Bio!
LSM: A Year in Review
The year 2020 is certainly one to remember. With so many joys, challenges, and new opportunities, we have compiled a “yearbook” to chronicle what the LSM Community has been up to this year. From touching personal testimonies, to the ingenuity of the LSM Faculty, to a “where are they now?” on our 2020 graduates, we hope this brings you a little bit of joy and hope in this season.
Remembering Peter Wessler
In loving memory of Peter Wessler
2018: Peter with his LSM quilt, made by faculty member, Cathy McCord Larsen.
The LSM Community grieves together in the news that Peter Wessler died this week due to COVID-19 complications.
Peter served as the LSM Academy Director since 2003 and was both the face and the backbone of the LSM summer community for almost two decades. Perhaps no one else had a greater impact on the LSM community than Peter. His leadership always included kindness, patience, dedication to the students, and a reverence to the program he served. Peter was devoted to LSM because of its impact on his family after his two children (Jonathan and Daniel) attended as students. With all that Peter has given for almost two decades, he still recently commented that he hadn’t even begun to give back what LSM has given to his family.
Before and during LSM each year Peter rose to meet new challenges, eager to solve the puzzle that each new year presented and make the summer academy run without a hitch. We know that only a fraction of his hard work was visible, as he would wake up with the sun and set himself to task hours before the community gathered for Morning Prayer and heard his announcements for our day. His hard work was punctuated always with joy, good humor, and warmth, setting the tone for the welcoming environment at LSM. With his humble and inviting leadership, Peter effortlessly earned the respect of the entire faculty and student body. LSM was in good hands with Peter at the helm for 17 years. Peter was not only a faithful servant to LSM, but a friend to all, and an irreplaceable fixture in our community and our lives.
In addition to Peter’s service to LSM, he also served for 40 years as an orchestra teacher in Peoria, IL. He served as the choir director at his Church, and in his “retirement” from teaching, enjoyed being a driver for Peoria Charter.
We offer our sincerest condolences to Peter’s family, mourn with them, and celebrate this great man who was, above all, devoted to his faith and family. If you wish to share a card with Peter’s family, you may mail letters to the LSM office at the address below.
Additionally, many have already asked about contributing a memorial gift to LSM in honor of Peter. We have created a scholarship fund in his honor, which you may view online here. You may also mail a gift to the LSM office at the address below.
Wessler Family
c/o Lutheran Summer Music
P.O. Box 8687
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Peter’s shoes are impossible to fill. We will find a way to pay tribute to Peter during LSM 2021 and into perpetuity.
LSM Winter Session
Introducing the LSM Winter Session!
After the cancelation of LSM 2020, LSM 2021 can’t come soon enough!
In the meantime, LSM is thrilled to offer the first-ever fully online session to help young musicians tune up their playing and singing, explore exciting topics in music, connect with peers from all over the country, and get to know our incredible Faculty, whether LSM 2021 is part of your summer plans already or not.
The LSM Winter Session aims to remove the barriers of distance, tuition cost, and time commitment so that we can welcome even more young musicians into our community!
Winter Session Offerings Include
Three private lessons with an LSM Faculty Artist
Live or Pre-Recorded performance opportunities on Zoom
Studio meetings and Masterclasses
Electives including
Topics in Music History
Musical Theatre Survey
Jazz Improvisation Techniques
Topics in Church Music
Recording at Home
Basics of Conducting
And more!
Collegiate Music Audition Panel
Exclusive Faculty Performances
Community building activities
Visit the LSM Winter Session webpage to learn more about offerings, enrollment, and how to support this exciting new program!
Pay what you can.
No questions asked.
Thanks to generous underwriting from Tom and Kathy Schmidt as well as significant scholarship support, LSM is able to offer the Winter Session at a low cost and provide Pay-What-You-Can options for students with financial need.
If the standard tuition rate of $99 is out of reach for any reason, simply select one of the three Financial Aid options, ranging from $0-49 on the Enrollment Page.
LSM 2021 Applications Open
Lutheran Summer Music 2021
June 27-July 25
Valparaiso University
Open to students grades 8-12
Now is the time to start planning for a life-changing summer at LSM 2021!
We look forward with great optimism to welcoming all our students to campus next summer for a long-awaited return to making music, building community, and growing in faith together.
Learn more and share!
Whether you're just starting to think about LSM for yourself, or wondering how to share LSM with a young musician in your life: here are some easy ways to learn more!
An inside look at LSM
To see what a day in the life of an LSM student looks like, take five minutes and watch this video!
See all the sights and sounds of LSM and hear from real students and faculty about their experience.
Digital Brochure
Need some information at a glance? Download a digital brochure to get the facts about what is offered at LSM, learn more about Faculty, and how to apply.
Ask Us Anything!
LSM Admissions is available to answer any questions- large or small- about the LSM Experience.
admissions@lutheransummermusic.org
Text
612-324-4439
Call
612-879-9555
New in 2021
Risk-free Refund Policy
While we are planning with optimism for LSM 2021, we want to eliminate the financial risk for students and their families during this still uncertain time. For that reason, LSM is offering a full refund of all payments made, including deposit and application fee, until April 1, 2021. View the full refund policy and all tuition and financial aid details HERE.
Fundraising Tool
We know that traditional fundraising opportunities may look different this year, and are thrilled to introduce a new crowdfunding tool for enrolled students, which can be requested and set up by LSM Staff for your convenience. Donations made toward your tuition will go directly to LSM and be automatically counted toward Matching Fund opportunities.
See an Example of this student fundraising page and how it can be personalized with your name, fundraising goal, and unique story! Be sure to Contact Admissions if you would like to take advantage of this fundraising opportunity.
Reflection on Commemoration of St. Michael and all Angels
Commemoration of Michael and All Angels
Reflection by Chad Fothergill
29 September 2020
Since the fifth century, the church has observed a commemoration for an archangel named Michael who, in the book of Revelation, protects God’s people in the midst of danger. Or, as the LSM community sings in Carl Schalk’s setting of Luther’s Morning Prayer, “your angel keep me safe from harm.”
Scripture also tells us that angels are quite musical, forming choirs that number in the thousands! We are invited to join their song around eucharistic tables: “with all the choirs of angels,” chants the presider, “with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn.” In response, the gathered assembly sings the Sanctus:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth
are full of your glory.”
When Martin Luther crafted texts and melodies for the people to sing in their own language at worship, he turned to the vision of the prophet Isaiah who saw six-winged angels singing these words. Luther’s version of the Sanctus (CW 267; ELW 868; LBW 528; LSB 960; TLH 249) has been sung for nearly five centuries, often in the context of the eucharistic liturgy. It’s a fitting chorale for today’s commemoration, and we invite you to sing along with this recording from one of our 2019 liturgies.
Isaiah in a vision did of old
the Lord of hosts enthroned on high behold,
whose splendid train was wide outspread until
its streaming glory did the temple fill.
Above God’s throne the shining seraphim
with sixfold wings did rev’rence unto him.
With two each seraph hid his glorious face,
and two about his feet did interlace,
and with the other two he soared on high,
and one unto another thus did cry:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!
His glory filleth all the earth!”
The beams and lintels at their crying shook,
and all the house was filled with billowing smoke.
Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Martin Franzmann, 1907–1976, © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Introducing the LSM Cantor
Chad Fothergill assumes new role of cantor at LSM
Cantor Chad Fothergill playing for a Sunday Eucharist at LSM
Chad Fothergill teaching a group of beginning organ students
For almost 40 years, LSM has seen generations of alumni align their musical gifts with careers and vocations in Church Music. As the sophistication and creativity of worship music at LSM continues to move and inspire so many, it is essential to have great and consistent leadership to guide its growth and reach. For this reason, we are thrilled to announce Chad Fothergill as the inaugural LSM Cantor. A remarkable organist, composer and educator, Chad is also a member-leader of church music communities nationwide, including the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and the Institute for Liturgical Studies.
The LSM Cantor provides leadership and direction for the many musical components of worship life, the sacred music curriculum at LSM, and how LSM interacts with the wide world of Church musicians. This new year-round, permanent role also creates and oversees new opportunities for LSM students and current church musicians to interface and learn from one another, enriching the experience for all.
As an LSM alumnus himself, Chad's passion for this program has been amplified in his past two years on faculty, serving as Organ teacher and Chapel Choir Director. His dedication to the students at LSM brings immense joy and depth to their worship experience and we are incredibly fortunate to have him fill this important new role.
Carl Schalk to receive 2021 Service Award
Dr. Carl Schalk to receive 2021 Service Award
In 2018, Lutheran Summer Music established the Carlos Messerli Service Award to recognize individuals who have displayed outstanding service to the mission of LSM. This year, LSM is proud to announce that Dr. Carl Schalk will be honored with the 2021 Carlos Messerli Service Award for his decades of leadership and service to LSM.
A preeminent composer, lecturer and professor, Carl Schalk has been a friend of LSM since its inception in 1981. Perhaps his most recognized contribution is his setting of Luther's Morning Prayer, written for the LSM Community. The gift of this music is one that students and alumni carry with them always, and reminds them of their place as a valuable member of the LSM community forever.
Q&A with Carl Schalk
All are invited to participate in a live video Q&A with Dr. Schalk himself. Whether you have specific questions for him about his career, music, connection to LSM, or just want to listen in on this personal and exclusive conversation, all are welcome!
This event also coincides with the week of Dr. Schalk's 91st birthday- join us in honoring and celebrating him!
Monday, September 28th
1:00 PM Central Time
Hosted on Zoom
All are welcome: free to attend!
This event is free and open to all, with a brief online registration. Please register by September 25th to receive the login information, and to submit any questions you have for Dr. Schalk in advance!
Scholarship Endowment Fund
The Dr. Carl Schalk Lutheran Summer Music Scholarship Endowment Fund is now being established to coincide with this award.
The Dr. Carl Schalk Lutheran Summer Music Scholarship Endowment Fund furthers LSM’s strategic goal of removing the financial barrier to attendance for all deserving students. This Scholarship Endowment Fund will honor Dr. Schalk’s legacy not only in name, but in the promise that the future of music and the Church which he has served so faithfully will be preserved through the training and nurturing of these young people.
Gifts made toward this new scholarship endowment will be generously matched 2:1 by two anonymous donors! Thank you for considering adding your name to the list of people honoring Dr. Schalk by contributing to this new scholarship fund.
July 28th: A commemoration of Heinrich Schütz by Chad Fothergill
In addition to J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel, July 28th is also the commemoration of composer Heinrich Schütz. LSM Cantor Chad Fothergill shares with us the following reflection as well as a hymn recording directly from LSM.
Today, the church commemorates three of its influential musicians: Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), and Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). Bach—who died on this date in 1750—wrote cantatas, masses, settings of the Passion, organ and instrumental music, and has been called the “fifth evangelist” for the way he proclaimed the gospel in music. Handel’s most famous oratorio, “Messiah,” is an imaginative setting of scriptural texts. Schütz also set many biblical texts to music; like Bach and Handel, he is known for his vivid “text painting,” or depiction of words and images through music. During the hardships of the Thirty Years’ War, Schütz wrote many pieces for smaller ensembles: likewise, today’s church musicians adapt to the challenges of our time in creative ways.
On July 28, 2018, the LSM community marked this commemoration during evening prayer. A twentieth-century paraphrase of the customary evening canticle, the Magnificat, was sung to a melody by Schütz originally composed for Psalm 121. We are pleased to share a recording of that hymn with you here!
“Sing glory to the Holy One …
… from age to age by all adored!”
July 28th: A Commemoration of J.S. Bach by Laura Potratz
Laura Potratz, LSM Associate Cantor, shares a beautifully written observation of J.S. Bach’s Cantata BWV 25: Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe (There is nothing healthy in my body).
There is nothing healthy in my body
Today is July 28.
In the Lutheran church, today marks the commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach. Normally the LSM community would have gathered two Sundays ago to experience one of Bach's many cantatas written for a specific Sunday in the church year. Some months ago, early in the pandemic, a friend of mine made me aware of BWV 25, a cantata called Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe (There is nothing healthy in my body). There has never been a time in my life when the great treasury of musical heritage failed to speak, and despite the scale of the current world health crisis, this period is no exception.
This cantata was written for Bach's Lutheran church, Thomaskirche, for Sunday, August 29, 1723. For more than three years leading up to that time, there was an outbreak of bubonic plague in Marseilles, France, where about half the population had died, and the disease was spreading north. Though some 800 miles from Bach's workplace of Leipzig, he most likely would have known about a disaster of this scale. So when the appointed texts for this day included the text from Luke 17 where Jesus heals ten lepers--ten distanced, suffering, diseased people--his mind wove together the title (from Psalm 38:3), two chorale tunes (See LSB 449 and 692 or ELW 606 and 783 to satisfy your curiosity!), and poetry relating the condition of the lepers to the spiritual ailing of humanity.
Great art distinguishes itself by speaking to many generations of people. It takes no imagination to connect The whole world is just a hospital from the tenor recitative to the reality we are all living during these days. Likewise, the out-of-control desires relating to vanity and money are omnipresent in the turmoil of how we humans are treating each other and God's world.
But if the first half of the cantata expresses fear, anxiety, and suffering, the second half calls on the Great Healer for help, presence, and strength: You alone, my doctor, Lord Jesus, know the best cure for the soul. Thanks abound at the mere prospect of God's aid--before aid even arrives. We have faith and hope, even with an outcome as yet unknown.
You can enjoy hearing this cantata here and understand its words better here.
Peace and Blessings on your July 28th!
LSM Digital Highlight Reel: Volume 2
In what would have begun the third week of LSM 2020, where our community would be engrossed in the afterglow of a great Half Session concert, invigorating rehearsals for the upcoming Bach Cantata, and an impending inspirational student field trip, we are instead inspired and encouraged by the LSM Faculty who have found creative ways to engage LSM students and our entire community. Thanks to the incredible online engagement from LSM’s dedicated teaching artists, the greater LSM community can learn together in a new way.
Please enjoy below some highlights from the past few weeks, and click HERE to view the full digital archive of LSM 2020 Online Content.
Faculty Performances
Learning Resources
Practice Tips
Cheryl Lemmons shares on the importance of scheduling practice time and committing to the routine.
Mark your calendar: Hymn Festival Watch Party!
Join us on Facebook Live on Wednesday, July 22nd at 7:00 PM (Central) to relive the incredibly moving joint Hymn Festival presented in 2019 by Lutheran Summer Music and the National Lutheran Choir. Whether you were able to join us last year digitally or in person, or will experience this glorious event for the first time, we invite you to enjoy and participate in distanced fellowship with the greater LSM Community.
LSM Digital Highlight Reel: Volume 1
Below are some highlights from the past several weeks as our LSM Faculty (and alumni!) have risen to the occasion to find creative ways to engage with our students and greater community since the cancellation of LSM 2020 was announced. Please enjoy these offerings of music and encouraging messages, and follow LSM on Facebook and Instagram so you don't miss a thing!
A message from the LSM Orchestra Director: Dr. Kevin Sutterlin
Dr. Kevin Sütterlin created a video greeting for the LSM community and shares a message of encouragement, and congratulations for the Class of 2020.
He also discusses some of his plans for the LSM Orchestra, including his excitement to program music by composer Florence Price, which the LSM Orchestra had a chance to preview last summer, and invites us all to look forward with him to 2021 and the wonderful array of repertoire he has in mind for our students.
A new piece for Pentecost
LSM Composer-in-Residence, Dr. Ben Krause, composed a new piece for the season of Pentecost dedicated to the LSM Community. Arranged for piano and viola, it is performed here by Dr. Krause and Thomas Bandar on viola.
Dr. Krause shares a description of his composition:
"Associated with Pentecost, the chorale Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist calls to the Holy Spirit for comfort in a time of crisis. The German stanzas of this hymn are Martin Luther's own, from 1524, although the melody itself can be traced back to the 13th-century Latin sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Here I offer my own setting, dedicated to the LSM community, as a meditation on hope and a prayer for healing — 'so that we may love each other from the heart/and in peace remain of one mind.'"
LSM Alumni Feature
Two recent LSM Alumni, Renata Peperkorn (2018) and Matthew Yee (2017/2018) created a video recording of O Morning Star How Fair and Bright by Paul Manz, arranged for organ and trombone.
Both of these talented alumni come from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California. Thank you for sharing your gifts, Renata and Matthew!
A meaningful Faculty testimony
We invited our faculty to share how LSM has impacted their lives. Horn instructor, Dr. Bruce Atwell, shares his experience below:
“My name is Bruce Atwell. I have had the privilege of being the horn instructor at LSM since 1999. Each summer I look forward to the energy, positivity, and passion of my colleagues. I’ve seen my LSM horn students go on to professional careers as horn players and as college and high school music educators. I’ve also seen how LSM has changed their lives. The unique combination of high-level music making, faith, and community makes LSM a very special place. Life-long friendship are forged here, students’ passion for music is ignited, and it is all happening under the umbrella of a caring, loving faith-based program. There really is no other place like this.”
Lutheran Summer Music 2020 Canceled
An open letter to the LSM Community from the Executive and Artistic Director
April 29, 2020
Dear Friends,
Like you, I’ve been eagerly anticipating and planning for LSM 2020, with the hope that the current COVID-19 pandemic would subdue and we’d be able to gather this summer and join together in song. However, with the health and safety of our community as our top priority, today I’ve decided to cancel Lutheran Summer Music 2020 in response to the circumstances of the current COVID-19 crisis. This decision was not made lightly, and only after substantial conversations with the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, LSM faculty, and Valparaiso University leadership, as well as current guidelines from the CDC and the State of Indiana.
No doubt this news is as devastating to you as it is to me. Never has the importance of LSM been more apparent. Young musicians hone their gifts and meet the people who will be their colleagues, friends, and peers for a lifetime. This transformational experience has already shaped thousands of lives, people who are now in their communities serving others during this time of uncertainty.
Because of your unwavering care, support, and enthusiasm, I’m optimistic that LSM will remain strong and we look forward to 2021 when we celebrate our 40th anniversary.
Save the Date: LSM Celebrates 40 Years!
LSM 2021
June 27-July 25
Valparaiso University
Community
To our LSM 2020 students and families: whether this would have been your first time or your fifth time at LSM, we’ve been looking forward to welcoming you and seeing you build an incredible community together. You have already received an email from our Admissions Director Kristina Rodel Sorum this morning. Kristina will also be following up with you personally in the next several days on how you can be sure to join us for our 40th anniversary year in 2021, tuition options, and how to remain connected to our esteemed faculty and this special community in the meantime. While you are the ones suffering the greatest loss this summer, we hope you take comfort looking ahead to LSM 2021, which will be a more joyous reunion than ever.
Gratitude
To the hundreds of donors who have supported student scholarships, sponsored students, underwritten concerts, and contributed to general operations, thank you. Your support means that LSM will weather this global pandemic and be here to encourage young people to pursue transformational lives for another 40 years. We will be in touch regarding the implications of gifts already made in support of LSM 2020.
Thank you to the multitude of LSM alumni, teachers, church musicians, pastors, and all who have encouraged a young musician in your life to choose LSM. We are immensely grateful for your advocacy, and look forward to your continued support as students and families already plan for LSM 2021.
Connection
While the transformational elements of LSM can’t be distilled into a digital format, we look forward to utilizing our social media platforms and email updates to stay connected with the greater LSM community with uplifting content from faculty, alumni, and current students throughout the summer.
Hope for the Future
As we look to LSM 2021 and our 40th anniversary, plans are already taking shape to bring even more people together to join, and return to, the LSM community. We anticipate record interest and enrollment for LSM 2021 building on the tremendous growth of the past few years. Three ways you can help in the coming days:
Nominate a student for 2021
Support LSM to keep it accessible for all students next year and in years to follow
Plan to join us for LSM 2021 Festival Week
The outpouring of love and enthusiasm for LSM has been extraordinary. Thank you to our LSM 2020 families, faculty, and staff for their patience during a time of uncertainty and our community for their unwavering support.
Stay well,
Thomas Bandar, Executive and Artistic Director
Meet the LSM Advisory Council
LSM is thrilled to announce the formation of the new LSM Advisory Council. The inaugural group is made up of 15 members who have each been profoundly affected and influenced by LSM. This group has a collective 68 LSM summers among them and represents a diversity of experiences, history, and connection points with the organization.
Not only will the Advisory Council hold an important connection to our long-standing traditions, ensuring they continue into the future, they will also take a leadership role in securing the future of LSM. As we approach our 40th anniversary in 2021, we will call upon their experience in the rich history of LSM, as well as their creativity and energy as we plan a bright future together. They will effect positive growth by implementing key strategic initiatives in programming, enrollment, alumni engagement, and development areas.
The Advisory Council started meeting virtually this spring, and will come together in person each year during LSM Festival Week.
Click Here to see the dynamic and creative team of LSM alumni and friends from a variety of years, backgrounds, and expertise who will take a significant degree of ownership over this program for which they care so deeply. We look forward to soon growing this council both in number and in relationship to the LSM program.
COVID-19 and LSM 2020
April 15, 2020
In the past week, the LSM staff has benefited greatly from meeting with the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and LSM 2020 Faculty to discuss contingency for LSM 2020 in light of COVID-19. We are encouraged by the support and dedication from all of these individuals as we navigate an unprecedented time in our history. We are in close contact with Valparaiso University, who are making adjustments based on recommendations from the CDC and the Governor of Indiana. You can view their campus safety updates HERE.
The health and safety of the LSM community is our first priority, and the primary focus of our many conversations with our constituents. As we take in more information each day, we expect more clarity in the coming weeks to know for certain whether LSM 2020 can safely occur as planned. In the meantime, we are available by phone and email to answer any questions, and look forward to our continued connection with you.
April 7, 2020
Our continued prayers extend to all in the LSM Community this week, especially to church musicians, clergy, and lay leaders guiding their congregations in Holy Week observances while physically apart from one another. We hope you all stay well and can connect in a meaningful way.
As we consider this summer, which will quickly approach, the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is always our first priority. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 crisis and following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government and public health organizations.
LSM Staff are (virtually) convening this week with other LSM leadership groups, including Faculty, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council to consider all viable possibilities for LSM 2020, and will continue to update the LSM community as adjustments are made.
March 31, 2020
As the planning continues for LSM 2020, we are encouraged by the enthusiasm of students applying for LSM, our faculty making exciting preparations, and the continued support of the greater LSM community. As of today (March 31), LSM 2020 is proceeding as scheduled, and we will continue updating the LSM community regularly with adjustments based on recommendations from public health organizations.
The LSM staff is currently working remotely in accordance with safer-at-home recommendations, and are available by phone and email for questions and conversations about LSM and plans for the coming summer.
If you are looking for more ways to stay connected with LSM, you can Contact us, Apply for LSM, and Make a Donation online, as well as follow us on Facebook.
March 23, 2020
In this evolving situation, we want to make it as risk-free as possible for student and families to plan on LSM 2020. For this reason, we are taking the following steps to make sure the doors are open wide for students who are looking for a fulfilling summer making music at LSM:
Application fees are waived until April 15th
The initial tuition deposit of $350 will not be due until May 15th
Piano accompaniment is NOT required for the recorded audition, and if a student cannot access their instrument at this time, their audition deadline will be extended.
In the event that LSM 2020 cannot take place due to extended COVID-19 precautions, a full refund including application fee and deposit will be provided as one of several options for enrolled students. The LSM community would be notified no later than June 1st if this is the case.
March 13, 2020
We want to update the LSM community and address any questions or concerns stemming from the spread of COVID-19. The health and wellness of the entire LSM community is our top priority and is the primary consideration as we prepare for LSM 2020. We understand this is a dynamic situation and are closely monitoring the spread of the virus day by day. At this time, we expect that LSM 2020 will take place as planned and will take preparatory measures to ensure the health of our students, faculty, staff, and guests on campus. In addition to a full time Health Counselor on our staff, we are forming a task force of staff members on campus to prepare, monitor, and respond to any health concerns that arise due to COVID-19.
We are in close conversation with Valparaiso University, who have moved their classes online for the remainder of the spring semester in order to keep their campus healthy. Valparaiso University officials are optimistic that this will not affect LSM’s residency on campus this summer. LSM and Valparaiso University are in regular communication and will keep you informed of any further developments.
LSM continues to stay informed through the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization for best practices surrounding the COVID-19 virus. We are in full support of our colleagues in music and church work who are being faced with difficult decisions to keep their communities healthy, and keep in our prayers all who are affected by the virus.
For almost 40 years, LSM has been a transformational and essential experience for young musicians that nurtures the entire student through practicing music, faith, and community building. During this exceptional time, we will take all measures necessary to prioritize complete student well-being this summer.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any specific questions at: lsm@lutheransummermusic.org.
LSM Christmas Letter 2019
Dear Friends,
As the end of the year and the decade quickly approaches, we at Lutheran Summer Music are overwhelmed with gratitude. The amount of creative and productive progress that we have seen in the past year is unprecedented, and could not have happened without you. Thousands of individuals in the greater LSM community have offered their time, talent, resources and prayers to secure the bright future of this essential program, which in turn guarantees the future of the sacred and classical music traditions that we hold so dear.
Because of your faithful commitment to LSM, we are assured that concert halls will be filled with performers and music lovers; organ benches at churches will have skilled musicians to guide the musical life of the congregation; choirs will have members to sing our favorite hymns and inspire awe; and church pews will be filled with the faithful, coming together in worship and song.
We invite you to share in the joy of our abundant blessings, and see what your support has made possible in the past year.
Enrollment Growth
Last summer, LSM saw the largest enrollment since 2013. This is due in large part to the multitudes of LSM alumni, church musicians, teachers, pastors, and faculty who have encouraged young musicians to pursue their gifts at LSM. Because of your commitment and persistence, enrollment for LSM 2020 is tracking at historical heights. .
Some facts about our 2019 student body
Students from over 25 states and abroad
63% of students attended LSM for the first time
Students came from a great diversity of faith backgrounds
Over half of the eligible students from LSM 2018 enrolled for LSM 2019
The majority of LSM students chose to attend due to encouragement from a caring adult in their life
Financial Security
Through generous financial gifts and discerning stewardship from the Board of Directors, LSM ended the fiscal year in a strong financial position with a balanced budget and a small surplus, which will secure our financial position for the future. At LSM 2019, each faculty studio was sponsored at a level of $1,000 or more, which inspired a culture of gratitude for everyone in the LSM community to see the generosity that makes their experience possible.
New Initiatives
New initiatives at LSM have allowed even more people to experience the fullness of this program. We initiated a bold new vision to completely eliminate the financial barrier to LSM attendance, and implemented the first major step in this plan: a major Tuition Reset for LSM 2019.
LSM 2019 was the inaugural year of the new Fellowship Program, where advanced collegiate or post-graduate musicians serve as peer leaders, gaining practical mentorship skills and working side-by-side with LSM faculty to enrich the artistic experience.
Livestreaming concerts and recitals at LSM has allowed thousands of people all over the world to engage in a new way. Alumni relive their own LSM experience, parents see their child perform from afar, and many experience LSM for the very first time. You can revisit these moments through the video archive for years to come.
We launched a series of regional events entitled An Evening with LSM. These events are modeled after a typical night during LSM. This series allows us to connect and engage with the LSM community across the country, introduce LSM to new audiences, and raise funds for scholarship support.
Meaningful partnerships
Through reaffirming our commitment to our three core values: Music, Faith, and Community, we have been able to build meaningful partnerships with other organizations who share these values. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the National Lutheran Choir, with whom we not only share office space and resources, but also artistic vision, which was brought to fruition at our Joint Hymn Festival this summer.
We were similarly thrilled to announce our partnership with the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University, which will premiere at LSM 2020.
In addition, our relationship with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians continues to grow. We look forward to collaborating with ALCM again during LSM 2020 for their Let All the Peoples Praise You event during Festival Week, after the energizing success of a similar event in 2018.
Hope for the future
In this Advent season of faithful anticipation, we feel the powerful hope of things yet to come. The new year will bring with it the launch of the new LSM Advisory Council; its inaugural group made up of LSM alumni who are actively engaged in advancing the vision of LSM. We are already eagerly looking forward to 2021, when we will celebrate 40 years of transforming lives and connecting people through faith and music.
Thank you for keeping LSM in your heart this year, and we joyfully anticipate the years to come as the LSM community grows in every way.
Reflections from LSM Concert Choir Director Dr. Nancy Menk
Learn more about the LSM Concert Choir past and present, and the conductors who have shaped this experience to be unforgettable for students and audiences alike.
In Endless Song
The LSM Concert Choir is not only a flagship ensemble, whose performances are a highlight each summer, but a bonded community of unique individuals and voices that come together to uphold the Lutheran choral traditions we hold dear, as well as challenge themselves to take risks and explore new challenges together. Learn more about the LSM Concert Choir past and present, and the conductors who have shaped this experience to be unforgettable for students and audiences alike.
A conversation with Dr. Nancy Menk: LSM Concert Choir Director
How did your experience teaching at LSM meet or challenge your expectations?
My experience at LSM last summer exceeded my expectations! I was so pleased with the students' level of musicianship. As a result we were able to learn some challenging repertoire in a very short time.
What makes the experience of teaching at LSM unique?
The strong relationships among the staff and faculty, many of whom return to LSM year after year--that says something about the quality of the experience. The students really WANT to be there! They want to work hard to learn more about their art. It is a very supportive environment. The beautiful morning and evening prayer services bring everyone together to start and close our days, and these services always feature a strong musical component.
Why are you choosing to return to LSM in 2020?
I found the whole experience invigorating and renewing...something I usually find in my summers by reflecting on the past year, and in planning repertoire for the coming year with my college and community choirs. But making music with these talented and sincere young people was exciting and renewing in a different way. I loved spending time with my teaching colleagues, and I was amazed by the quality of the nightly recitals and concerts. There truly is a "festival" atmosphere at LSM!
What should a young singer know about coming to LSM and singing in choir?
If you love singing and if you want to make music a part of your life as a music major or minor, as a church musician, or as a performer, you could not find a better musical community to spend a month with in the summer. You will receive excellent teaching and coaching, you will be a part of wonderful ensembles like the concert choir, and you will be able to take electives in your areas of greatest interest. For a singer, these may include conducting, musical theatre, church music, chamber music, and music composition. It is truly an immersive experience!
Watch the LSM 2019 Choir Concert and more at the LSM Concert Archive!
A Legacy of Choral Greatness
Dr. Menk is the most recent addition to a long history of world class choral directors who have served at LSM. See below the chronology of excellent choral educators who have led the LSM Concert Choir in a life-changing musical experience.
1982: Dale Warland and Weston Noble
1983: Weston Noble
1984: Sigrid Johnson
1985: Daniel Moe
1986: Donald Morrison
1987: René Clausen
1988: Craig Hella Johnson
...View the complete list of LSM choral directors HERE!
LSM partners with the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University
Lutheran Summer Music is thrilled to announce a new artistic partnership with the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University. The works of Johann Sebastian Bach have long been an integral part of the LSM experience, as this music not only challenges students as musicians, but enriches worship and is an education in the history of music in the Lutheran Church.
Every year, the LSM community mounts a full Bach Cantata to be offered in the context of Sunday Eucharist, rising to the challenge of this sophisticated music and bringing mature artistry to the worship experience. The Bach Institute and director Dr. Christopher M. Cock (former LSM choir director) share these values and seek to ensure the legacy of the music and theological perspective of Johann Sebastian Bach for future generations. This partnership will increase the educational opportunities for LSM students and community members by exploring in further depth the life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach from its proper historical, musical, and theological context.
The LSM 2020 Bach Cantata will be the first collaboration between LSM and the Bach Institute, and will take place during the LSM Sunday Eucharist service on July 19, 2020 in the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University.