Hosted by the growing Worship Arts program within CUAA's music department and organized by Director of Church Music and Worship Arts Dr. John Boonenberg, Worship Arts Day was an immersive learning opportunity and a chance to discover more about the Worship Arts at CUAA.
Over the weekend of February 15-16, 2019, Concordia University Ann Arbor welcomed 16 high school students for the first annual Worship Arts Day.
The high school students arrived on Friday afternoon and launched the weekend with a meet and greet with Concordia students. Friday also included a Masterclass with CUAA students, a campus tour, some games, and closing worship. For students who spent the night with CUAA chaperones, lights were out by 11:30 in anticipation of a full Saturday schedule.
“You didn’t have to be a super experienced musician or planning on becoming a parish music major or worship arts leadership minor to learn more. This event is about getting people together who have a heart for worship, and we did just that,” said Concordia student and worship arts leader Celia Walkowicz.
Saturday started off early with breakout sessions all thoughout the morning teaching guitar, voice, piano, drums, and songwriting. Following sessions were large group Bible studies. Rehearsals for the closing worship began in the afternoon, with the students divided into two ensembles to lead worship.
The event closed with friends and families of the students gathering in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity to see what the students had learned and worship together, even singing a bridge to a hymn that the students had written in songwriting class.
“The inaugural Worship Arts Day was a huge success, we are already discussing how to expand our session offerings, possibly even looking at multiple dates and locations—the interest has been incredibly high,” said Dr. John Boonenberg.
Questions about Worship Arts at Concordia University Ann Arbor? Visit our website or connect with John Boonenberg at John.Boonenberg@cuaa.edu.
— Esther Schulze is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Art. She will graduate in 2020.
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