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Press Release: THE HYMN SOCIETY HOLDS CONFERENCE IN MONTRÉAL

For immediate release
February 27, 2023

THE HYMN SOCIETY HOLDS CONFERENCE IN MONTRÉAL
The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada will hold its Annual Conference July 16-19,
2023, on the campus of McGill University in Montréal. This year’s theme, “Land, Language, and
Liberation,” offers an opportunity to explore how to celebrate, praise God, and live into the
church’s mission in light of the challenges we face in the world today. Both in-person and online
registrations are available.

The conference will include an abundance of opportunities for learning, connecting,
celebrating, singing, and more:

  • Four hymn festivals in all, led by Frédéricka Petit-Homme, Jonathan Maracle, Leslie Jordan, and a special guest with each festival including songs of various traditions and genres, including Gospel, First Nations, French Catholic, and Praise & Worship
  • Four plenary presentations by Kenny Wallace, Kuzipa Nalwamba, Lester Ruth, and a panel led by Anneli Loepp Thiessen and Becca Whitla
  • Six featured sessions, exploring various perspectives on the intersection of congregational song with culture, language, and more
  • More than thirty sectionals, including new music showcases and sessions on historical topics, pedagogy, theology, and song from Canada, the Black diaspora, and outside North America
  • A pre-conference organ recital by Isabelle Demers
  • A bookstore and silent auction
  • Times to eat, sing, and share conversation

Anyone who believes in the importance of congregational song is welcome to register for the
full conference. Advance registration rates are available through June 15. For more information
or to register, visit www.thehymnsociety.org.

 

This information is provided by J. Michael McMahon, Executive Director of The Hymn Society in the United States
and Canada, 5 Thomas Circle, NW, 4 th floor, Washington, DC 20005-4153. For more information, please contact Dr.
McMahon at mike@thehymnsociety.org or 800-843-8966.

Founded in 1922, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada is an ecumenical organization of people who
are passionate about hymns and congregational song. The Hymn Society community, open to all, is made up of
scholars, church musicians, poets, composers, choir directors, choir members, clergy, worship planners, song
leaders, music publishers, music educators, and people who love to sing. We believe that the holy act of singing
together shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace. Our mission, therefore, is to
encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song.

Sing the World God Imagines

Washington, DC
The Catholic University of America

July 17-21, 2022

 

The Hymn Society’s Annual Conference is the premier conference focusing exclusively on congregational song in the U.S. and Canada. Each year it features top scholars from the U.S. and Canada as well as other international guests for plenary addresses, 4 hymn festivals planned and led by internationally recognized song-leaders, and over 40 breakout sessions on a variety of topics. The conference is held in mid-July each year at a different location within the U.S. or Canada.

To learn more about this year’s conference happening in Washington DC,
you can go to www.thehymnsociety.org/event

Each of the 4 hymn festivals offered are always free and open to the public as a part of The Hymn Society’s mission to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song in each location we host our Annual Conference.

Sessions include special breakouts for text writers, tune writers, and song writers with the opportunity to get written and verbal feedback from the leader on your submitted piece.

Those who attend The Hymn Society’s Annual Conference include church musicians, worship leaders, pastors & priests, composers, poets, publishers, and anyone else who is passionate about congregational song.

Recent Conference Leaders:
  • Rev. Dr. I-to Loh – Editor of Sound the Bamboo: CCA Hymnal 2000, Former Seminary President at Tainan Theological College, Ethnomusicologist, and Composer
  • Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wilson – Associate General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, Director of the Center for Music and Worship in the Black Church Experience, and Award-Winning Singer
  • Dr. John Witvliet – Director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Professor of Worship, Theology, and Congregational and Ministry studies at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, Author of Over 7 Books
  • Rev. Dr. Molly Marshall – President and Professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation at Central Baptist Theological School, Past-President of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, Author of 3 Monographs and multiple book chapters and articles
  • Dr. Miguel De la Torre – Professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies at Iliff School of Theology, Author of Multiple Books and Articles, Past-President of the Society of Christian Ethics
  • Jorge Lockward – Past Director of the General Board of Global Ministries for The United Methodist Church, Minister of Worship at Church of The Village in the Northwest Bronx, and leader of the ecumenical chorale Cántico Nuevo
  • Rev. Dr. Paul Westermeyer – Professor Emeritus of Church Music at Luther Seminary, Past National Chaplain of the American Guild of Organists, Author of 5 Books on Church Music
  • Dr. John Baldovin, S.J. – Professor of Historical and Liturgical Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, Author of Multiple Books on Roman Catholic Liturgy, Past President of the North American Academy of Liturgy
  • Mark Miller – Assistant Professor of Church Music at Drew Theological School, Lecturer in the Practice of Sacred Music at Yale University, Published Composer by Abbingdon Press and Choristers Guild
  • Rev. John Bell – Composer and Song-Leader for the Wild Goose Resource Group of the Iona Community, Fellow of the Presbyterian Church of Canada and Royal School of Church Music, Editor of the Church of Scotland’s Church Hymnary (Fourth Edition)
  • Dr. Marcia McFee – Ritual Artist and Creator of Worship Design Studio, Author of Think Like a Filmaker, Guest Professor at Universities and Colleges across the U.S. and Canada
Recent Conference Locations:
  • 2022 – Washington, DC
  • 2021 – Online
  • 2020 – Online
  • 2019 – Dallas, Texas
  • 2018 – St. Louis, Missouri
  • 2017 – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
  • 2016 – Redlands, California
  • 2015 – New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 2014 – Columbus, Ohio
  • 2013 – Richmond, Virginia
  • 2012 – Winnipeg Canada

Learn More and/or Register at https://thehymnsociety.org/event/