Lutheran partnership leads to middle school choral camp in St. Paul
In addition to music education at LMP middle school programs, campers form strong bonds with other participants. Photos provided by Lutheran Music Program
Lutheran Music Program announced its intention to partner with Concordia University, St. Paul, to provide a Middle School Choral Camp on the Concordia campus this summer from July 23 to 27, 2012. Dr. David Mennicke, director of choral studies and music department chair at Concordia University, St. Paul, will lead the five-day program.
For more than 30 years, Lutheran Music Program (LMP) has held the Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM), featuring a well-regarded faculty of artists and teachers who guide gifted high school students from around the country through a month of intensive musical study and performance. Now, LMP extends this tradition of excellence by expanding programming to middle school youth through this new choral music camp program in partnership with Concordia University.
Since 2008, LMP has partnered with various organizations to pilot this unique programming for middle school youth. Past middle school choral programs have been held at Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, Minnesota; Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria, Minnesota; and, most recently, on the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota in 2011. The new collaboration between LMP and Concordia St. Paul invites middle school youth of all faith backgrounds to engage in fun and interactive learning and music.
A week of music appreciation
Mennicke has been director of choral studies at Concordia since 1989 and is also active in church music, directing the Senior, Men’s, and Youth Choirs at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Minneapolis since 1997. At LSM, Mennicke has served in a variety of positions, including voice faculty (1996), Concert Choir conductor (2001, ’03, ’05), and Chapel Choir conductor (2004). Each of his three daughters also attended LSM.
Middle school students participate in choral program offered by Lutheran Music Program.
Lutheran Music Program and Concordia University will welcome area middle school students to Concordia’s campus for five days of singing, faith formation, and fun.
The Middle School Choir Camp will meet daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 23-27, and will include vocal warm-ups and games followed by reading sessions and choir rehearsals. Music history and appreciation will be combined with recreation and other arts activities. A final informal performance for friends and family on Friday afternoon will share all that the students have learned during the week.
Unlike LSM, this is a day camp and not a residential program, making the program more financially accessible to metro area families. The $200 tuition includes all music materials and fees, lunch each day, a camp T-shirt, and the final performance. No audition is necessary, but registration will be limited.
LMP and Concordia University will welcome area middle school students (completing grades 5-8) to the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul, for five days of singing, faith formation, and fun. For more information or to request a brochure, call 612/879-9555 or email bburns@lutheransummermusic.org.
The 2012 Middle School Choral Camp is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
LSM’s Academy & Festival will again be hosted June 24-July 22 by Luther College, an ELCA college in Decorah, Iowa.
Tags: Bethlehem Lutheran Church Minneapolis, Concordia University St. Paul, David Mennicke, Dr. David Mennicke, ELCA, Green Lake Bible Camp, LMP, LSM, Luther College, Luther Crest Bible Camp, Lutheran Music Program, Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival, Middle School Choral Camp, Minnesota State Arts Board, University of Minnesota
