"Sewanee is such a shot in the arm for church musicians. I have learned many things to help my choir. I now have 42 people on the choir roll. They have never performed twice with the same people present. They come and go at will. Yet musically they are getting better. It just takes more time with the revolving door going. I am not a singer, and anyone who has sat near me at rehearsal will underline that! But I have learned technics that have pulled my choir up to a new level. Choirs don’t stay the same, they either get better or they get worse. Thanks to Sewanee, mine seems to be getting better!"
"I have attended this conference regularly for quite a number of years. I always look forward to the opportunities to make music with outstanding musicians, for the instruction and insight of the faculty, for the fellowship and the renewal of old friendships, for the spiritual nourishment of daily liturgy, and to enjoy the natural surroundings of Monteagle/Sewanee, TN."
"I am new to the Episcopal church, and am interested in learning more about how to extend my musical knowledge to accommodate growth in congregational singing."
"To learn, to peruse and purchase music in an atmosphere of folks who cherish that which is dear to my heart. To share meals with friends old and new. To recharge my batteries, so I can go home and pass that along to my choir and clergy..."
"My vicar handed me the brochure and suggested I would like it. He was more than right."
"The faculty are not so "high on a pedestal" that you don't feel you can speak one-on-one with anyone."
"I ALWAYS come away with new ideas, new music, new inspiration and new friends. What more can you ask for in a week's time?"
"Good clinicians, welcoming atmosphere, variety of learning and social opportunities."
"Everybody does everything, so you quickly become a unified group and feel included."
"Small in size. Great facility who are current with church music trends. Wonderful surroundings, both at DuBose and Sewanee."
"Great time; I hope I'm back for many years!"
"Food was first-rate!"
My little church has been in transition since May of 2009. They did some renovations to the sanctuary, which thankfully included a chancel area with space for my choir. For 8 months we met in a community center, and I was the church piano player. Every choir rehearsal was at a different time. But my choir came, no matter what. And they got better. It was no accident. Sewanee 2009 gave me so much! I have 60 or 8 new people, my choir enrollment is over 40, and people jokingly say that we’ll have to seat the congregation in the choir loft and give the choir the rest of the church. We are singing better music, and thankfully, I learned some directing skills. So you see, I can hardly wait for another week at Sewanee.
On the morning of July 9th, I started my annual pilgrimage to Sewanee, Tennessee for the Sewanee Church Music Conference. Actually, we are housed in Monteagle, at the Dubose Conference Center, which is 6 miles down the road from Sewanee, but some of our classes, the organ recital and the two major services were held on the campus of the University of the South. For those of you who know the area, you will know that just being there is a slice of heaven, but when you combine it with great music, preaching and clinicians…well, it can’t be beat!!
The conference is 6 days and the schedule is full. There were 150 conferees from all over the US, but mainly from the South. There were rehearsals every day, sometimes twice a day until Thursday when we went to All Saints Chapel on campus to sing the office of Choral Evensong. We sang the music of Leo Sowerby, Gerre Hancock and Charles Wood. Some of the music was quite difficult, but it was simply thrilling to sing great music in such surroundings. Our clinicians, Gerre & Judith Hancock (formerly of the great St Thomas Church in NYC) led us in choral conducting organ master classes and workshops in the art of improvisation. Our chaplain for the conference, The Rev Dennis Maynard, gave 40-minute lectures every day and preached at the daily morning eucharists. Unusually, as the week wore on, the crowds got bigger! He’s a fine speaker and has written quite a few books. You can check him out at www.episkopols.com. On the Friday after Evensong, we began rehearsing for the Sunday Eucharist. At this service we sang the music of Hancock, Martin & Shepard and were treated to the most glorious improvisation on the hymn “Come labor on” by Dr G Hancock. Dr Hancock is well known throughout the organ world for his improvisational skills.
There was “down time” too, with a trip to Foster Falls for a supper picnic, a BBQ in the Pavilion after Evensong, and the annual last night Banquet that is followed by the Frolic. The skits this year were quite funny and there was even one by Gerre Hancock himself!
Conferences like these are vital for musicians in the church. They are important in our continuing education, exposure to America’s and Britain’s top musicians, the swapping of ideas with other musicians in similar churches and needed R&R. I think I speak for the majority of us who attend them in saying we are sad to leave the mountain, but refreshed and ready to tackle the musical year ahead!! Thank you for making this possible for me.