Join us at one of our Augsburg Fortress Summer 2012 Worship & Music Clinics.
These free events have been developed for the continuing education of today's church musician. Held in a variety of locations across the nation, these events provide opportunities for church musicians to network, learn and be inspired.
Each clinic features a variety of choral, organ, and piano reading sessions to help plan for the coming season (check out the music planning calendar). Our expert clinicians offer valuable insights and ideas to help participants explore ways to revitalize and refresh worship in their local settings.
Register here to be eligible for one of our prize drawings. Watch this site for frequent updates and fan us on Facebook .
All attendees will enjoy a 15% discount on all featured Augsburg Fortress music and 10% discount on all featured non-Augsburg Fortress Music ordered or purchased during the event.
Clinicians for all locations:
Michael Bedford, Bradley Ellingboe and Scott Weidler
Schedule for CA, WA, MN, SC, IL, OH, PA |
| Day One |
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| 8:30 – 9:00 |
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Registration* |
| 9:00 – 11:00 |
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Handbells (This Session will not occur in Long Beach CA; clinicians for other locations listed below) |
| 11:00 – 12:30 |
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Organ and Piano Repertoire – Michael Bedford |
| 12:30 – 2:00 |
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Lunch will be provided for those staying for Prelude Music Planner presentation - you must reserve lunch on line when you register) |
| 2:00 – 3:00 |
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Children and Youth music* - Bradley Ellingboe |
| 3:00 – 3:15 |
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Break |
| 3:15 – 4:15 |
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Workshop
A. – The Three S's of Children's Choirs Singing, Self and Spirituality – Michael Bedford
Our work with children's choirs takes us on a unique and challenging adventure. Making music is certainly a given in this situation, but our work with these precious young ones involves so much more. We have the unique opportunity to reach out to children on so many levels. In this workshop we will look at the numerous ways we can help in developing the whole child. There will be time for sharing experiences and asking questions.
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B. – Conducting Gestures as they shape Tone – Bradley Ellingboe
Since amateur choirs react as much to body language as to formal gesture, this session will discuss both the messages we intend to send, as well as messages we might unintentionally transmit. Strategies and solutions will be offered in order to create the most efficient conducting gestures.
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| 4:15 – 5:30 |
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Beyond Books and Screens – Music in Community – Scott Weidler
There is a movement in the church rekindling an ancient practice of singing – a way of music making that has been central to folk traditions for centuries. It is simple and beautiful; faithful and traditional. Singing without the use of books or screens – rather relying on human to human communication – creates community in a powerful and unique way which transcends any labels, such as contemporary or traditional.
This workshop will explore ways to incorporate this kind of singing into our regular worship services, as well as stretching some boundaries. A variety of music will be sung, including pieces from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and other sources we already have close at hand. Basic techniques for leading will be introduced. |
| 5:30 – 7:00 |
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Dinner on your own |
| 7:00 |
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Christ among Us: Hymns That Span the Globe - Hymn Festival with Michael Bedford and featuring Bradley Ellingboe |
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| Day Two |
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| 8:30 – 9:00 |
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Registration |
| 9:00 – 10:00 |
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Workshop
A. –Major Choral Works for the Normal Church Choir – Bradley Ellingboe
We will look at Accessible larger works from Bach to Rutter.
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B. Jack of All Trades, what they didn’t tell you in your Job Description – Michael Bedford
When church musicians accept positions, they usually go in thinking they are clear on the expectations of their employers. Once they arrive on the scene, things have a way of evolving from what they appeared to be on the surface. This presentation will look at a number of additional duties that may come the organist’s way once he or she has begun work. Although somewhat tongue-in-cheek, there is a certain reality that we will address here. Bring your sense of humor and let’s explore the multi-faceted position of “Director of Music”. |
| 10:00 – 10:30 |
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Break |
| 10:30 – 12:00 |
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Choral Session I* (Ellingboe) |
| 12:00 – 1:30 |
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Lunch (provided for those staying for an update on Prelude Music Planner – you must reserve lunch on line when you register) |
| 1:30 – 3:00 |
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Choral II* (Ellingboe) |
*Music packets for these sessions cost $1 each and include complete copies of all the music for you to keep – a great deal!
Clinician Descriptions:
 Michael Bedford - Oklahoma
Michael Bedford has served as Organist/Choirmaster and Composer-in-Residence at St. John's Episcopal Church in Tulsa for twenty-one years. A native of Sherman, Texas, he holds the BM, BME and MM degrees from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, and the DMA degree from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. He has published choral music for children's, youth and adult choirs, as well as music for handbell choirs and for organ. Through fifteen different publishers he now has some 200 titles in print. His pieces have won first prize in both the 2010 American Guild of Organists/Holtkamp Organ Composition Contest and the 2002-04 AGO/E.C.Schirmer Choral Composition Contest. He serves as organ recitalist, as well as clinician and workshop leader for children's and youth choir festivals, handbell festivals, hymn festivals and organ workshops throughout the United States. He is currently serving the American Guild of Organists as Regional Councillor for Region VII (TX, OK, NM, AR and LA). His bio has appeared in both the 1984 Outstanding Young Men of America and the 1989 International Who's Who in Music.
Bradley Ellingboe – New MexicoBradley Ellingboe has led a wide-ranging career in the world of singing, including accomplishments as a choral conductor, soloist, composer, scholar and teacher. As a choral conductor he has led festival choruses in 40 states and 14 foreign countries. He made his operatic conducting debut in December, 2011, leading the world-premiere performances of Stephen Paulus's opera Shoes for the Santo Niño in a joint production by the Santa Fe Opera and the University of New Mexico. As a bass-baritone soloist he has sung under such conductors as Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, Karl Jenkins and Sir David Willcocks. Ellingboe has over 110 pieces of music in print, including his largest work, the Requiem for chorus and orchestra, which made its Carnegie Hall debut with the composer conducting in 2010. Ellingboe led the European debut of his Requiem in 2011, with concerts in Budapest, Bratislava and Prague. For his scholarly work in making the songs of Edvard Grieg more accessible to the English-speaking public, he was knighted by the King of Norway in 1994. As a teacher, the University of New Mexico Alumni Association named him Faculty of the Year in 2008.
 Scott Weidler
Scott Weidler has served the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as Program Director for Worship and Music since 1995. In addition, he is the Cantor (leader of assembly song) at Immanuel Lutheran Church on the far north side of Chicago. He is one of the presenters for Music that Makes Community, a project of the All Saints Company, an ecumenical organization that develops and provides liturgical resources to help churches engage the fundamental principles of our humanity.
Handbell Clinicians:
 Mary Yerks - Minnesota
I enjoy helping people of all ages grow in their musical development, whether learning their first instrument or expanding their horizons and learning something new. I have a BA in music education with a focus on instrumental music. I have been involved with Handbells for over 30 years, beginning as a ringer and progressing to director. I currently direct a 4-7 grade choir, an experienced adult Handbell choir and recently started a new Handbell program. I have been a member of both Bells of the Lakes and Twin Cities Bronze. I regularly attend Handbell Musicians of America Seminars and classes. I completed a Master Class in Festival conducting taught by Beth Judd and have completed Level 1, 2 & 3 of the Ringing Techniques and Proficiency course of the Handbell Musicians Certification. I also teach private lessons on piano, guitar and woodwinds
 Ann Y Schmidt - Pennsylvania
Ann Y. Schmidt is the Director of Music at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, a music ministry involving fifteen choirs, seven of which are handbell teams. She has been teaching and directing English handbell classes and choirs since 1973. She is a former Area III chair of the Handbell Musicians of America, has served on the National Board of Directors, has been on the executive boards of Areas II and III, has served on the national board's communications committee and teaches beginning directors and conducting at the local, regional, and national level. Ann is the founder of Capital Carillon, an auditioned handbell ensemble serving the Washington DC metropolitan area.
 Michael Surratt - Illinois
A native of North Carolina and church organist since the age of twelve, Michael Surratt holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University in organ performance.
Michael served as Director of Music Ministries at the Union Church of Hinsdale for 32 years, where, in addition to being organist, he was responsible for overseeing the church's music program, which included directing three handbell choirs.
Michael has served on the Communications Committee of the Handbell Musicians of America. Active in many community and professional music organizations including the American Guild of Organists, he has appeared as an organ recitalist throughout the Midwest and southeastern United States and in Europe and has been an Adjunct Instructor of Organ at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois.
 Jane Irvine - Ohio
Jane Irvine has been involved with handbells for 32 years. She is a retired music teacher , grades K-8, including an award winning junior high handbell choir, and holds degrees in music education from West Virginia University and Ohio University.
She studied handbell methods from Robert Ivey and conducting from Dr. William Payn. She served Area V, AGEHR for 6 years as Education Chair, teaching several classes and repertoire sessions at annual festivals. She rings with the Mid-Ohio Valley Ringers, a bronze level auditioned community choir, and is a 5 year veteran of Distinctly Bronze.
She is organist at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Marietta, Ohio, and teaches at Marietta College and Ohio University.
 Ron Mallory - Washington
Ron Mallory (b. 1973) has a master's degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in music composition from California State University, Long Beach. He teaches handbell classes at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue, WA, and serves as choir director at Living Word Lutheran Church in Puyallup, WA. Ron has a growing number of published compositions and arrangements for choir and handbells and has won several composition contests. He also has professional experience as a piano teacher, jazz band leader, and studio musician. Ron lives in Maple Valley, WA with his wife, Emily. A lifelong Christian, Ron is always working to grow in his relationship with God. More information about Ron and his music can be found at http://www.ronmallorymusic.com.
 Dr. Ron Davis
Dr. Ron Davis is currently serving as South Carolina State Chair for the Handbell Musicians of America (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers). He has been directing handbell choirs for well over 20 years and has been a handbell workshop clinician in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. In 2009 and 2011, he led clinics during Handbell Week at Lutheridge Assembly near Asheville, NC. His collegiate handbell choir, the PC Ringers of Presbyterian College, is gaining a reputation for extraordinary performances and creative, musical, and entertaining programming. The PC Ringers will be recording their first CD under Dr. Davis' direction in the spring of 2012.
Dr. Davis is also Associate Professor of Music at Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC, where he directs studies in music theory, sacred music and organ. Additionally, he conducts Cantare!, PC's men's choir. As an organist, Dr. Davis holds a position at First Baptist Church of Greenwood, SC. He has been heard as an organ recitalist throughout the South and Southwest as well as England and Canada.
Dr. Davis lives in Laurens, SC.
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