THE SUMMER INSTITUTE OF CHURCH MUSIC PRESENTS

Lifelines
for the Storms

Voicing Community, Inside-Out

A transformative and exciting professional development conference for church musicians, worship leaders, clergy and choristers.

2023 Session Schedule

What is the Summer Institute of Church Music?

For more than 50 years, the Summer Institute of Church Music has offered a unique professional development, study, and retreat program for church musicians, worship leaders and choristers. Participants have the opportunity to be mentored, coached and taught by the ‘who’s who’ of Canada’s performers, professors, and thinkers in the church music field. Musicians and leaders of all levels and denominations are warmly welcomed. Since the very beginning, the program has been held at the beautiful campus of Trafalgar Castle School in Whitby, Ontario, as well as churches in the immediate area. Dr. Stanley L. Osborne, the SICM’s founder, was a former Principal at the school, and a dedicated and passionate church musician himself. The SICM is widely recognized for its one of a kind and first class program. Many participants return year after year to rejoice, study, renew their skills, re-energize, play and sing. The SICM is a non-profit organization that is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Sponsorships and donations are gratefully received.

2023 LEADERSHIP DREAM TEAM

Our Faculty

Patrick Murray

Choral Faculty (East)

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Sarah Svendsen

Organ Faculty (East)

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Laurier Fagnan

Choral Faculty (West)

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Lee Willingham

Program Consultant, Community Music

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Debbie Lou Ludolph

Program Consultant, Community Music

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THEME SESSIONS

Voicing Community, Inside-out

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MUSICAL HOSPITALITY / WELCOME

“Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place…” – Henri Nouwen

Music is one of our churches’ most immediately noticed and powerful signals to community members, old and new. What does ‘welcome’ look, feel, sound like? How can we become more musically hospitable in our ministry?

  • Monday, July 10

MUSICAL CONTEMPLATION / ACTIVISM

“Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions.” – Mahatma Ghandi

If thought precedes word, and word precedes action, why are our churches so rich in words, and sometimes impoverished in thought and action? This session explores a variety of song and the relational dynamics that encourage an active, personal, and communal gospel justice.

  • Tuesday, July 11

MUSICAL IDENTITY / VULNERABILITY

“Know thyself” – ancient Greek aphorism

This session turns ‘inside-out’ our concern for knowing the world ‘outside’ the church to understanding our identity, owning our weaknesses and assumptions. How are musical introspection and vulnerability a first step in helping better understand, approach, and love the world for which we are called?

  • Wednesday, July 12

COMMUNITY BUILDING / HEALING: Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, Inclusion (EDAI)

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:7

Religious, corporate, artistic and community institutions are more than ever working to redeem past wrongs, fully engage the world around them, and know themselves more richly through EDAI. What can this look like in our churches and especially our music? What can we gain, what might we lose?

  • Thursday, July 13

PROGRAM LOCATIONS

Venues

All Saints Anglican Church

Organ masterclasses and the Osborne Organ Competition are held at All Saints Anglican Church in Whitby, ON. The church is a short walk or drive from Trafalgar Castle School.

  • 300 Dundas St W, Whitby, ON L1N 2M5

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Edmonton’s First Baptist Church

The SICM’s Chorale West dress rehearsal and Gala Concert will be held at Edmonton’s First Baptist Church. All are welcome, freewill offering.

  • 10031 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1M1

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CHOOSE YOUR REGISTRATION

Registration Packages

Program East

Non-resident – East (Whitby)

$450

  • All sessions
  • Meals
  • Music scores

  • Free parking

  • Accommodation separate
Register Opens March 1, 2023

Program West

West (Edmonton)

$450

  • All sessions
  • Meals
  • Music scores

  • Free parking

  • Accommodation separate
Register Opens March 1, 2023

Online Program

via Zoom

$300

  • Theme presentations and masterclasses
  • Organ and choral
  • Organ competition

  • Gala concert

Register Opens March 1, 2023

Evening Chorister Program

Onsite East and West

$100

  • Four rehearsals

  • A dress rehearsal and gala concert

  • Sunday dinner

  • Music scores
Register Opens March 1, 2023

Testimonials

“SICM is a welcoming community of church leaders — musicians, clergy, lay people — who inspire each other by willingly sharing ideas in an environment that successfully balances professional and spiritual issues. You will be changed for the better by getting involved in this wonderful organization.”

Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt

2021 SICM Faculty

“Over the years I have observed that being a church musician can be both a fulfilling vocation, as well as a sometimes frustrating and lonely existence. But, as I witnessed when I was invited to lecture at SICM in 2019, people clearly enjoyed meeting with others, sharing experience, gaining insights and being nourished as, rather than lead music, they are led. I highly commend this experience to all who, part or full time, are responsible for music in worship.”

Rev. John L. Bell

2019 SICM Faculty