CMI is proud to reflect on the musical celebrations that we produced in 2019. These festivals are joyful events that embody the goals of our organization and its members.
Festival of Church Music, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas
On October 13, 2019, singers from 25 church choirs gathered with the largest Festival “congregation” ever to celebrate the music of the church. Led by Dr. Eric Nelson of Emory University and the Atlanta Master Chorale, a 300 voice choir, including children directed by Cynthia Nott of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, sang anthems for the liturgical year from a variety of composers and styles. The choir then led the congregation, along with a brass ensemble and the Lay Family Fisk Organ played by Dr. Bradley Hunter Welch, in robust congregational singing of hymns, filling the space with glorious sound of nearly 2,000 voices.
Hymn Festivals in Ft. Worth, Texas & Portland, Oregon
June, 2019, found Dr. David Cherwien and Dr. Paul Westermeyer at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth leading a hymn festival that also culminated the “Congregational Song” class at Brite Divinity School. Dr. Bruce Neswick, assisted by Benjamin Kolodziej, played a hymn festival prior to the opening of the national convention of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians in Portland.