Our annual gathering for education and mutual support is happening in hybrid mode this year, live at Islington United Church in the greater Toronto area and on Zoom for those who can’t join us in person! Registration for in-person or online is now live at https://musicmatters2023.eventbrite.ca with a cost of $100 for in-person, including refreshments and some meals, or $50 for the Zoom option. We’ve also included options for paying more or less than the suggested amounts, to make it possible for everyone to join us, regardless of their financial situation. Come one, come all!
Here’s the schedule for Music Matters, with all times given in Eastern Daylight Time – details will be updated as more information comes in. For those online, the workshops and events held in the sanctuary will be live on Zoom. For in-person attendees, there are options for many of the workshop times this year. Choices, choices!
Our annual Hymn Festival on Friday night at 7:30pm, and is open to everyone, no registration required. Join us in person at Islington, or on Zoom at https://united-church.zoom.us/j/85296574316
See you at Islington!
Friday, April 21
| Time | Event | Leader | Location |
| 1:00pm-1:45pm | Registration and Welcome Reception | Alydia, Sartu, Hospitality Team | Back Doors & Reception Room |
| 1:45pm-2:15pm | Opening Worship & Announcements | Jason Locke and Rev. Maya Landell | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 2:15pm-3:15pm | Afternoon Session 1 – Workshops | ||
| Choral Conducting Master Class Prep | Elaine Choi | Choir room | |
| Song Writing 101 | Bruce Harding, Pat Mayberry & Jason Locke | Chapel | |
| Hand Bells Technique | Debbie Fingas | Sanctuary [Online] | |
| 3:15pm-3:45pm | Refreshment break | Hospitality Team | Reception Room |
| 3:45pm-5:30pm | Afternoon Session 2 – Plenary Session Choral Conducting Master Class | Elaine Choi | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 5:30pm-5:45pm | Announcements & Grace | Sanctuary [Online] | |
| 5:45pm-7:00pm | Dinner and Free Time/Social Time | Hospitality Team | Stewart East Hall |
| 7:30pm-8:45pm | Public Hymn Sing | Jason Locke/Lloyd Maclean | Sanctuary [Online] Zoom link: https://united-church.zoom.us/j/85296574316 |
| 8:45pm | Evening Social Gathering | TBD | TBD |
Saturday, April 22
| Time | Event | Leader | Location |
| 8:30am-9:00am | Continental Breakfast | ||
| 9:00am-9:30am | Gathering Worship | Jason Locke and Rev. Maya Landell | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 9:30am-10:45am | Morning Session 1 – Plenary: Why We’ll Sing What We Sing When We Sing a New Song [The Theological and Ethical Framework Guiding Then Let Us Sing] | Led by Members of the Then Let Us Sing team. Visit www.thenletussing.ca for info on the project | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 10:45am-11:15am | Refreshment Break | Hospitality Team | Reception Room |
| 11:15am-12:15pm | Morning Session 2 – Workshops | ||
| The Pianist as Organist | Fred Graham | Sanctuary [Online] | |
| Drumming for Worship | Bruce Harding | Stewart East Hall | |
| The Church Musician as Administrator – organizing and Time Management | Round table discussion to share tips – panel to include representatives from various sizes + styles of programs (large, urban, rural, suburban…) | Choir Room | |
| 12:15pm- 1:15pm | Lunch | Hospitality Team | Stewart East Hall |
| 1:15pm-2:30pm | Afternoon Session 1- Plenary: Contemporary Worship Music | Anneli Loepp Thiessen | Sanctuary [online] |
| 2:30pm-3:15pm | Refreshment Break | Hospitality Team | Reception Room/Stewart East Hall |
| 3:15pm-4:15pm | Afternoon Session 2 – Plenary: Wait- What? That hymn is racist? Developing an Anti-Racist Music Ministry | Deb Bradley | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 4:15pm-4:30pm | Stretch Break | N/A | |
| 4:30pm-5:55pm | Choral Anthem Reading Session | Debbie Fingas | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 5:55pm-6:05pm | Announcements | ||
| 6:10pm-?? | Dinner and Pub Event | Jason Locke | TBD |
Sunday, April 23
| Time | Event | Leader | Location |
| 9:00am-9:45am | Gathering at the Church | Everyone | |
| 9:45am-10:15am | Choir Rehearsal | Jason Locke | Chapel |
| 10:30am | Sunday worship with Islington United Church | God | Sanctuary [Online] |
| 11:30am-12:30pm | Post-Service Refreshments | Hospitality Team | Stewart East Hall |
| 12:30pm-1:30pm | Travel time to Metropolitan UC, Toronto | ||
| 1:30pm-3:00pm | Mass Choir Rehearsal for Hymn Festival at Metropolitan UC | Jonathan Oldengarm | Metropolitan United Church |
| 3:00pm | Hymn Festival at Metropolitan UC | Jonathan Oldengarm | Metropolitan United Church |