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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, September 19, 2007
CONTACT Aubrey Streit, (785) 227-3311, ext. 8274
HYMN WRITER AND WORSHIP LEADER AT BETHANY OCT. 1 THROUGH OCT. 6
LINDSBORG, Kan.—An organist, composer and leader in sacred music will be guest composer in residence at Bethany College Oct. 1 through Oct. 6.
Thom Pavlechko, cantor and composer in residence at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, will lead classes, seminars and workshops for Bethany students and the public. His public events while at Bethany include:
-- Oct. 3 from 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. – Chapel at Burnett Center
-- Oct. 5 – “Discover Sacred Music Day” at Bethany College. Free music workshops, clinics and classes for high school students. An optional overnight lock-in is also available. To register by Oct. 1, call (785) 227-3380 ext. 8141 or visit www.bethanylb.edu/sacred music.
-- Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. – “A Celebration of Sacred Music” concert and hymn sing at Presser Hall. The free event will feature Pavlechko’s original compositions as well as a sampling of original hymn and psalm compositions written by Bethany College students.
-- Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – “A Kyrkomusik Seminar” at Bethany College. Along with Bethany faculty in music and theatre, Pavlechko will lead free workshops in church music for music directors, organists, soloists and choral conductors. To register, call (785) 227-3380 ext. 8141 or visit www.bethanylb.edu/kyrkomusik.
Pavlechko last visited Bethany in October 2006 as part of the Bethany College Encounters series.
As cantor and composer in residence at St. Martin’s, Pavlechko serves as principal organist, choirmaster and overseer of all music activities. Founded in 1883, St. Martin’s has a long tradition of active music ministry – including a symphonic wind ensemble, handbell choir and contemporary band.
Pavlechko is an honors graduate of the Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University. He received the Master of Music from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. His compositions have been sung at national conferences of the Associations of Anglican Musicians and Lutheran Church Musicians. He has presented organ recitals at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and Washington National Cathedral. His combined choirs at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, where he has served as organist-choirmaster since 2000, have sung at Washington National Cathedral for Tennessee Day.
Pavlechko has served as organist and workshop leader for both national and regional conferences, and has led numerous hymn festivals. He also was selected as Emerging Hymn Composer for the 2002 conference of the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada, at which time his first hymn collection was debuted before 450 hymn text writers, composers and publishers from 16 countries.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they live lives of faith, learning and service. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu.
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