The choir will be learning 10-14 new pieces. Each choir member is expected to take personal responsibility to learn all music on their own before the first rehearsal. Music will be sent out 4-6 weeks before the first rehearsal. 

Wendell Nisly will be conducting this year.

Choir size will be limited to 100. 

A primary goal for this weekend is to add to the lively stream of new music that is flowing into our communities and churches. This requires commissioning new music — selecting texts, and paying composers a living wage to set these texts to music. Our composers include Douglas Byler, Ivan Martin, Lyle Stutzman, and Wendell Glick.

• Church Music. We believe there is a need for new congregational songs in today’s English and in a distinctly current musical language. Two of the new commissions are short songs with a very brief text, which are more meditative. Two songs are hymns, one taken directly from a parable of Jesus, and one on prayer.
• Choral Music. The three new choral pieces for this weekend are intended to be accessible to high school choirs and youth choirs.
• Children’s Music. Children should be singing songs that are at their level, but are not “cotton candy.” In particular, singing scripture is of crucial importance. The two children’s songs retell two parables: the sower, and the shepherd who left the flock to seek the lost sheep.