Collegeville Conference on Music, Liturgy, and Theology 2009

Join us for this year’s

Collegeville Conference on Music, Liturgy, and Theology

Conference Dates:

June 21-24, 2010

June 20-23, 2011

For information about the 2010 Collegeville Conference, contact Dorothy Kantor, dkantor@csbsju.edu

Liturgical Music Conference 2009 Postcard PDF (Front & Back)

Presenters: Fr. Michael Joncas; S. Sheila Browne, RSM; Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB

Clinicians/teachers: Kim Kasling, Lynn Trapp, Axel Theimer, and others

Conference Sponsors:
Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary
Liturgical Press
Saint John’s University Music Department

For more information, contact Dorothy Kantor at 320-363-3154 or dkantor@csbsju.edu.

A Message From the Co-Directors

The living church welcomes, fosters, creates, and is change within a context of constant principles and faith. Vatican II initiated enormous change while reaffirming bedrock sacramental values. After decades of study, practice in post-Conciliar years has evolved toward a diverse worship style and a multiplicity of resources. Perhaps levels of comfort with and acceptance of these trends have become norms. Now, in recent years, and especially during the papacy of Benedict XVI, directions and currents suggesting some changes in the liturgy, liturgical music, and roles of ministers and assemblies have emerged.

What are these and what do they mean for us all? Will we, of necessity, be returning to Latin in the liturgy? If so, how much, how often? Will we continue to sing the songs and ecumenical hymns that have become standard fare in many parishes? How might the role of women as lay ministers in the liturgy be redefined? What are the bishops really saying in “Sing to the Lord”? Will our ritual gestures be significantly changed?

We are extraordinarily fortunate this year to welcome S. Sheila Browne, RSM; Fr. Michael Joncas; and Fr, Anthony Ruff, OSB. In this summer’s conference, we will examine the questions posed above, review data on Catholic attitudes toward changes, comment on possible ritual changes and examine repertoire and musical examples. We will have choral reading, organ, voice, piano, and handbell sessions. Brief applied lessons in organ, piano, voice, and guitar will be offered. We will celebrate prayer and liturgy together with Compline, Evening Prayer and our Conference Eucharist in Saint John’s Abbey Church. There will also be social occasions to relax, reflect and enjoy one another’s company.

Welcome!

We look forward to a fulfilling time together here on the beautiful Saint John’s campus.

Dr. Kim Kasling
Dr. Lynn Trapp

Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB

Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, is a monk of Saint John’s Abbey. He teaches theology and liturgical music for Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary and the undergraduate Department of Theology of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. He is a frequent presenter on liturgical music across the United States, the author of many articles, and author of the recent book Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Transformations. The Liturgical Press recently published his Responsorial Psalms for Daily Mass: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter. Fr. Anthony is founding director of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He plays organ and directs Gregorian chant, and does priestly ministry for the neighboring Benedictine sisters and at the local county jail. He served on the committee which drafted “Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship” for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

S. Sheila Browne, RSM

Sheila Browne, RSM, is currently the Associate Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. In that position, she is coordinator for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Diocesan Director of Music. Previous to her position in the diocese, Sheila worked as an educator and parish minister in Brooklyn and Long Island. She holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Queens College of the City of New York and Manhattanville College, and is active in the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Her articles have appeared in journals such as Church, Pastoral Music, AIM: Liturgy Resources, and Pastoral Ministry.

Fr. Michael Joncas

Fr. Michael Joncas, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, ordained in 1980, serves as Associate Professor of Catholic Studies at St. Thomas University in St. Paul and regular visiting Associate Professor of Liturgical Studies at Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary in Collegeville. He holds a B.A. in English from the (then) College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota; an M.A. in theology with a specialization in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; and a S.L.L. and S.L.D. from the Pontificio Istituto Liturgico of the Ateneo Sant'Anselmo in Rome. He is the author of three books and about 150 articles and reviews. He has composed and recorded 20 collections of liturgical music.

Lynn Trapp

Lynn Trapp is co-director of the Collegeville Conference on Music, Liturgy, and Theology. He holds a D.M.A. from the University of Kansas. Dr. Trapp is well-known as a concert organist, conductor, composer, liturgist and clinician in the United States and abroad. As a composer, his organ/choral music is held by seven major publishers. He is the recipient of many academic awards including the Spirit and Truth Award from the University of Notre Dame for contributions to the liturgy and music field. He is Director of Worship/Music and Organist/Pianist at St. Olaf Catholic Church, downtown Minneapolis, where he directs an extensive liturgical program including radio/television broadcasts and concert series. For more information, visit http://lynntrapp.com/index.html.

Kim Kasling

Kim R. Kasling is founder and co-director of the Liturgical Music Conference, Director of Liturgical Music Studies and Professor of Music at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He holds an A.Mus.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Kasling has written many articles, made several recordings, and concertized widely with critical acclaim throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He is founder of the academic program in Liturgical Music Studies at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and teaches organ and music history. Dr. Kasling serves as senior adjunct organist for the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the principal organist for Jehovah Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Axel Theimer

Axel Theimer teaches choral conducting, applied voice, vocal pedagogy and other related courses at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, where he also directs the Chamber Choir and the Men’s Chorus. Dr. Theimer received his D.M.A. from the University of Minnesota. He is an active recitalist and has presented master classes, workshops and seminars for state, regional and national music conventions and conferences, and has conducted All-State Choirs, Choral Festivals, and Honor Choirs throughout the United States. Dr. Theimer is founder and music director of Kantorei and of Amadeus Chamber Symphony and is music director of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He is on the faculty, and is currently President and Executive Director of the VoiceCare Network.