When Music Meets Theologies

(From the interest session “When Music Meets Theology” presented during the 2012 ACDA North Central Division Conference.)

 

       A Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and a Serbian Orthodox teen walk into a hotel ballroom, along with a Jewish cantor and a Catholic school choral director . . .

       But seriously, folks: the 2012 NC-ACDA convention in Madison gave choral professionals a chance to talk about some of the opportunities and challenges inherent in developing interfaith worship services that include choral music.

       The conversation was a thoughtful and spirited exchange and included Rabbi Joseph Edelheit and Father Michael O’Connell, friends and religious leaders whose friendship led to Father O’Connell’s commissioning of a major choral-orchestral work, To Be Certain of the Dawn, intended as a Christian response to the Holocaust.

       The conference theme, “Beyond the Notes” is foundational to interfaith music experiences, which are often about interpersonal and intra-community relationships before they are about making excellent music. In times of celebration or in times of grief and sorrow, well-cultivated interfaith relationships can lead to meaningful interfaith worship and dialogue.

       In addition to Rabbi Edelheit and Father O’Connell, Cantor Debbie Martin of Temple Beth El in Madison, WI, shared about The Courage Project, a creative arts initiative of the Lubar Institute for the Study of the Abrahamic Religions at the UW-Madison. The Courage Project involves 20 teens from Madison who belong to different religious traditions, and encourages dialogue, understanding, and developing individual and group creative projects.

       Ms. Bonnie Scholz, choral director at Pius XI Catholic High School Milwaukee, WI, along with a 10th grade student who is Serbian Orthodox, shared Pius XI’s tenth anniversary of 9/11 interfaith service.

       Visit the website dedicated to “When Music Meets Theologies,” where you can learn more about the 2012 session and its participants, as well as find repertoire ideas and service leaflets for interfaith worship services. Contact session facilitator Kyle Lechtenberg for more information.