I returned from Lake Junaluska, North Carolina last night. As usual, the Lake was beautiful and it was an exciting week of making, hearing, and learning about music! The event was the annual Music and the Liturgical Arts Week.
The week featured handbell, youth, adult, and children's choirs as well as dance, drama, and visual arts.
I went with my friend Cynthia S. (see the picture) who sings in the choir at Faith United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. (I was the music director there for 5 1/2 years, leaving in 1999.
About 900 people (youth, children, and adults) attended the confernence.
Dr. Jerry Ulrich, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Georgia Tech, directed the adult choir in a service based on Psalm 81, including music specifically composed for the service with a melody based on the zip code and name of Lake Junaluska! The service included dramatic readings, dance, chant, English Cathedral Music, and Gospel Music. As he said, we can say we were at the lake "when we did something different." He's right and I'm really glad that I was there.
Michael Burkhardt was the conference organist. He accompanied our hymns with great skill and gave an exciting concert on the Cassavant organ at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, NC. During the concert, he had the packed church (probably about 500 and nearly all of them musicians) sing "All People That on Earth Do Dwell" (Old 100th) which we ended with the doxological verse "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. . ." The organ roared as the voices soared and I know that I will carry that sound with me always as a goal for congregational singing and organ accompanying. (Thank you, thank you, thank you, Michael Burkhardt!!! It was amaaaazzzzzing!!!)
What a week it was! Next stop: Houston, Texas for the Association of Lutheran Musicians biennial conference in July.
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