Hosts and special guests of Sing For Joy, a radio production of St. Olaf College, heard in nearly 200 communities nationwide, invite the public to join them in "Songs of Grateful Praise," a hymn festival on tour in Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The festival, which is free, will be held at The Evangelical Church of Saint Luke, 1500 W. Belmont Ave., at 8 p.m.
"Songs of Grateful Praise" will echo the show's broadcast format, with Sing For Joy Host and St. Olaf College Pastor Bruce Benson offering scriptural readings and commentary that weave hymns together on the theme of the beauty of creation. John Ferguson, Sing For Joy music adviser and St. Olaf professor of organ and church music, will lead the hymns on the tour. Ferguson's work as an improviser and leader of congregational song has received national acclaim. Each year he prepares and leads numerous hymn festivals across the country.
Anton Armstrong will guest conduct the St. Olaf Cantorei, one of St. Olaf's seven choirs reflecting the college's 100-year-old tradition of great choral music. The St. Olaf Cantorei was established in the 1960s as the campus choir. It blends instrumental and choral music in a creative expression of sacred music.
Armstrong is conductor of the St. Olaf Choir and a St. Olaf professor of choir and voice. He is active as a choral clinician and festival conductor (including numerous all-state choirs) throughout North America, the Caribbean, Scandinavia, Europe and the Pacific Rim.
Established 50 years ago, Sing For Joy has a simple mission: to provide music and commentary that will support the church in evangelism and worship. Through radio and hymn festivals, the program prepares listeners for worship and reinforces their worship experience.
A defining trait of Sing For Joy is basing each week's music on the scriptural lessons specified in the common lectionary. This three-year cycle of readings has become the basis for worship in the services that a majority of churchgoers in America attend. The musical performances eloquently "do the talking," while the host's concise comments illuminate the meaning of the texts.
For more information, please visit singforjoy.org. |
