This summer, engage with your faith through music at a series of Lutheran music events. Highlights include Augsburg Fortress Summer Music Clinics in five U.S. cities and the Lutheran Summer Music Academy at Valparaiso University, featuring over 30 public concerts. Additionally, Music that Makes Community offers community singing workshops, embodying our commitment to faith, music, and community. Embrace this opportunity to deepen your spiritual journey through music and read more at ELCA Worship’s monthly blog post.

This summer promises a rich tapestry of music and faith across our synod and beyond, as several Lutheran and ecumenical partner organizations host a variety of music-related events. These gatherings aim not only to celebrate and explore our faith through music but also to provide valuable resources for worship leaders, musicians, and all those with a passion for church music.

Augsburg Fortress Free Summer Music Clinics are scheduled across the country, featuring esteemed clinicians David Cherwien and Mark Sedio. These clinics are set to take place:

• July 16-17 in St. Paul, Minnesota

• July 19-20 in Columbia, South Carolina

• August 1-2 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• August 5-6 in Columbus, Ohio

• August 9-10 in Chicago, Illinois

Each session is crafted to enhance the skills and deepen the spiritual and musical insights of participants. Register now to secure your spot in these enriching experiences.

The Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival at Valparaiso University will be another highlight, running throughout July. This festival will culminate in a vibrant Festival Week from July 21-28, featuring performances by the LSM Festival Band, Choir, and Orchestra. Notably, this year includes an intergenerational performance of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion in collaboration with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.

For those who cannot attend in person, many of these performances will be available via livestream, ensuring that no one misses out on these spiritually uplifting events. For more details and to view the livestream, visit LSMacademy.org/2024.

Moreover, Music that Makes Community continues to foster deep spiritual connections and shared leadership through song. Their next major events include a Community Singing Workshop on July 13 in Atlanta, Georgia, and another in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin on October 11-12. These workshops offer a fantastic opportunity to engage with community song-sharing practices that inspire and transform.

These events are not just performances but a call to deeper fellowship and faith expression through music. They reflect our Lutheran heritage and our commitment to nurturing spiritual life in diverse and dynamic ways.