Spend a scenic fall weekend at Lake Junaluska as you enjoy a weekend of sacred choral music and worship
Oct. 17-19, 2025
Enjoy incredible autumn colors at Lake Junaluska in the North Carolina mountains when you attend this weekend of music, worship and fellowship. Choirs and all who love to sing sacred choral music are invited to come together to learn and perform eight anthems, as well as attend workshops.
Our theme for 2025 will be “Not to be Served, but to Serve” centered on Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Serving on our 2025 Choir Music Weekend leadership team are Daniel Craig, Cathy Garland, Anne Hook, Amy Martin, Hilda Ryan, Claudia Smith and Ginger Wyrick.
Music includes “Go Now in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord,” a special composition for Choir Music Weekend by Daniel Craig.
Saturday workshops will be “But I Don’t Like to Eat Puppies: Music Literacy for Anyone” – Anne Burnett; “Can Do Crafts” – Claudia Smith and Cathy Garland; “Images that Serve” – Daniel Craig; “Musical Alchemy – Turning a Hymn into an Anthem” (offertory ensemble) – Amy Martin; “Recommended Hymn Arrangement Books for the Church Pianist” – Hilda Ryan; “Spiritual Development for the Choral Singer” – Daniel Craig; “Vocal and Choral Techniques” – Ginger Wyrick and “Vocal Sight Reading” – Ginger Wyrick. (Read workshop descriptions below!)
We close our time together with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, in Harrell Center Auditorium. Guests and community members are welcome and encouraged to join us. Our guest preacher will be Rev. John Ferree.
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WORKSHOPS
But I DON’T Like to Eat Puppies: Music Literacy for Anyone – Anne Burnett– The workshop explains common musical terms and symbols, with a laminated cheat sheet participants can take home with them.
Can Do Crafts – Claudia Smith and Cathy Garland– The craft room is offered each year as a time for fellowship and fun. This year’s time will provide ideas for service through crafting. Join us as we learn ways to use our creativity to serve and not be served. All are welcome as there will be a variety of things to do. No experience necessary. The craft room will be open all afternoon and you are welcome to come and go as you wish.
Images that Serve – Daniel Craig– This session is designed for anyone who loves to take pictures. Whether you use a mobile phone or a dedicated camera, come take a photo walk with Daniel Craig and discover how to make meaningful images that will serve wonderfully in your church’s publications, in worship and your own spiritual development.
Musical Alchemy: Turning a Hymn Into an Anthem (Offertory Ensemble) – Amy Martin– We will talk through arranging a hymn in a simple, effective way to create a hymn-anthem and then prepare one to present as the Offertory during Sunday’s worship service. We need about 10 singers, who need not be soloists but should be adequate sight readers who match pitch easily. If interested, please add your name to the sign-up sheets at check-in or in Harrell Auditorium. Recommended for directors and singers who enjoy singing in small groups and like a quick study.
Recommended Hymn Arrangement Books for the Church Pianist – Hilda Ryan– This workshop will provide pianists with recommended books of hymn arrangements to use in their church ministry. Participants will have the opportunity to look at the books and hear excerpts from them to see if they would be suitable for their church environment.
Spiritual Development for the Choral Singer – Daniel Craig– Do you ever find yourself looking for the “worship” part of being a church musician? In this session we will discover great ways for us to reflect on the word and music we sing in such a way that helps us focus on the act of worship. Then we will encounter ways to take our Sunday liturgy and make it a part of our week’s journey.
Vocal and Choral Techniques — Ginger Wyrick– Similar to a group voice lesson, this session explores the vocal instrument including breathing, phonation, and diction. Experience a series of vocal exercises that you can do on your own or with your choir to improve your technic and sound. Recommended for singers of all ages, directors, and those who are simply curious!
Vocal Sight Reading — Ginger Wyrick– This demonstration workshop addresses foundation skills to improve music sight reading. Learn skills to help you read music quickly and securely. Discover patterns that recur in songs. Recommended for singers of all experience levels and directors who may be looking for ways to introduce this skill in rehearsal.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
3-5:30 p.m.- Registration & Sign-in
4 p.m.- Lodging Check-in
5:30-7 p.m.- Dinner
7-7:15 p.m.- Welcome and Announcements
7:15-9:20 p.m.- Rehearsals
9:30-10 p.m.- Evening Vespers
SATURDAY
7:30-8:30 a.m.- Breakfast
8:30-10:20 a.m.- Sectional Rehearsals
10:30-11 a.m.- Morning Devotions
11 a.m.-12 p.m.- Full Choral Rehearsals
12-1:30 p.m.- Lunch and Free Time
1:30-4:50 p.m.- Workshops
4:50-5:30 p.m.- Free Time
5:30-7 p.m.- Dinner
7-9 p.m.- Rehearsals
SUNDAY
7:30-8:30 a.m.- Breakfast
8:30-9 a.m.- Final Offertory Ensemble Rehearsal
9-10:20 a.m.- Final Choral Rehearsal
10:30-11:55 a.m.- Closing Worship
12 p.m.- Lunch and Departure
PROGRAM, LODGING & MEALS PACKAGE
Choir Music Weekend program, lodging and meal packages typically include:
- All Choir Music Weekend events, workshops and anthem music packet
- Lodging for two nights at the lakeside Terrace Hotel or historic Lambuth Inn
- Six meals from dinner on Friday through lunch on Sunday
PROGRAM ONLY REGISTRATION
Want to register for the program only at Choir Music Weekend? Enjoy worship, an anthem music packet and workshops for $120. (Lodging and meals are not included.) Register online for the program only or download, print and return a registration form (PDF).
