Church Music Conference Begins

Celebrating its 63rd anniversary this year, the Sewanee Church Music Conference begins on Monday, July 14, and will end with an 11 a.m. Festival Eucharist in All Saints’ Chapel on Sunday, July 20. The conference is based at the DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, where 125 church musicians from all parts of the United States will gather for lectures, rehearsals, classes, fellowship and performances. 

The faculty for the conference this year includes: Peter Richard Conte, choirmaster and organist of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church and grand court organist in Macy’s, Center City, Philadelphia, Pa.; Todd Wilson, director of music and worship at Trinity Cathedral and head of the organ department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, Ohio; and the Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander, Dean of the School of Theology, who will serve as conference chaplain and preach at the Sunday Festival Eucharist.

A number of public events will take place in All Saints’ Chapel.On Tuesday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m., Peter Richard Conte and Todd Wilson will present a concert on the magnificent 70-rank Casavant organ in All Saints’ Chapel. This is a unique opportunity to hear two world-class organists perform and see them accompany two classic silent movies, “Big Business” starring Laurel and Hardy, and Charlie Chaplain’s “The Kid.” 

Two church services will feature music provided by the conference musicians: Choral Evensong at 5 p.m., Friday, July 18, and the Festival Eucharist at 11 a.m., Sunday, July 20, in All Saints’ Chapel. University organist and professor of music Robert Delcamp is director of the conference.