1. family and parenting
2. children

Planning Team
Conference Director - Ken Courtney, CCM, Director of Music, First
Presbyterian Church, Aiken, SC
Howard Reed, PAM Board Representative, Music Director, Aspinwall
Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX
2015 Mo-Ranch/PAM
Worship and Music Conference
David VanderMeer, PAM Board Representative, Music Director,
Aspinwall Presbyterian Church, Pittsburg, PA
Ken Gould, Director of Special Projects, Mo-Ranch Conference
Center, Hunt, TX
Beth Thompson,
Chelsea Stearn,
William McConnell, PAM Executive Director, Louisville, KY
502-569-5288
www.PresbyMusic.org
[email protected]
You Thirsty Onces, Come
June 14-19, 2015
Mo-Ranch Conference Center
Hunt, TX
You Thirsty Ones, Come
Gathered on the bank of the Guadalupe River in the beautiful Texas Hill
Country, we explore together God’s invitation to come and drink the water
of life. Using as our theme the hymn You Thirsty Ones, Come, we sing, ring,
play, and worship together--remembering that, in the same way rain nourishes
and feeds the earth, we are fed, clothed, and protected by God’s loving care.
Together we will experience uplifting worship and make exciting and powerful
music together. Look forward to recharging, reconnecting, and reimagining
what it means to celebrate God’s goodness to us.
Ken Courtney, CCM, Conference Director
Planning Team Members:
Howard Reed, PAM Board Representative
David VanderMeer, 2016 Conference Director
Ken Gould, Director of Special Projects
Beth Thompson
Chelsea Stearn
William McConnell, PAM Executive Director
Registration Information
Visit the Presbyterian Association of Musicans website at
www.PresbyMusic.org/mo_ranch.html to register online, learn more details,
and get information about available scholarships.
Early Bird Registration Available Through January 2!
Questions about registration? Please contact the PAM National Offcie at
[email protected] or 502-568-5288.
PAM National Office​​
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville KY 40202-1396
502-569-5288
Toll-free: 1-888-728-7228 xt 5288
Fax: 502-569-8465
Mo-Ranch
2229 FM 1314
Hunt, Texas 78024-3037
800-460-4401
Fax: 830-238-4202
Conference Faculty
​
Margaret Aymer Oget, Preacher, Associate Professor of New Testament,
Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA.
Michael Burkhardt, Organist, Director of Worship and the Arts, Holy Cross
Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan, Director of Worship and Arts for the
Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA, and Artistic Director of the Detroit
Handbell Ensemble.
Beverly Chesire, Children’s Choir Accompanist, Cuero, TX.
Kathy Courtney, Adult Liturgical Arts Studio Class, Free-lance Interior
Designer, Aiken, SC.
Carla A. David, Advanced and Intermediate Handbell Clinician, Director of
Handbell Ministries, First United Methodist Church, Round Rock, TX.
Cari Earnhardt, Youth Choir Clinician, Choral Conductor, American University
of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Andrew Fullerton, Routley Lecturer, Presbyterian Pastor and Theologian,
Stratford, Ontario
Diane Haslam, Vocal Techniques and Cantor Class Clinician, Director of the
Aiken Singers, Adjunct Faculty, University of South Carolina Aiken, and
Section Leader/Soloist, First Presbyterian Church, Aiken, SC.
Brian Hehn, Drumming Class Clinician, Director of Music, Arapaho United
Methodist Church, Richardson, TX and Kindergarten Music Teacher,
Richardson Independent School District.
Jimmie Homburg, Children’s Art Classes, retired school teacher, from
Horseshoe Bay, TX.
Richard Holsomback, Instrumental Ensemble Director, Band Director,
Longview Texas.
Cassie Johnson, Children’s Art Classes, retired school teacher, from Cypress,
TX.
LuAnn Lane, Adult Choir Accompanist, Midland, TX, Instructor, Odessa
College.
Susan LaPointe, Children’s Chimes and Beginning Handbells, Fort Worth,
TX.
John & Krystal Leedy, Youth Activities and Bible Study, University Presbyterian
Church, Austin, TX. John is the Associate Pastor for Youth and Family
Ministries, and Krystal is the Director of Campus Ministry.
Elizabeth Schauer, Adult Choir Director, Associate Director of Choral Activities
and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Tom Shelton, Children’s Choir Director, Assistant Professor of Sacred Music
at Westminster Choir College, Rider University, Princeton, NJ.
Jane Van Valkenburg, Youth Choir Accompanist, Houston, TX.
Michael Waschevski, Adult Bible Study, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian
Church, Fort Worth, TX.
Age Classifications
Handbells/Chimes
MoPAM Worship & Music Conference classifies students in the following
categories:
Children - Rising 2nd graders - Rising 6th graders
Youth - Rising 7th graders - 12th graders
Children’s Chimes
All child conferees will participate in chimes class. Music will be provided.
Students younger than 7 years old will participate in childcare and early
childhood music opportunities. Please see the childcare page for important
information.
Group/Chaperone Information
All groups of children and youth must be accompanied by adult group leaders
and chaperones for the entire week. Chaperones are responsible for ensuring
that conferees attend all classes, rehearsals, and morning worship. They must
reside with children and youth, supervise behavior, and assist with activities for
children and youth.
There must be one chaperone for every six children and/or youth. A list of all
chaperones must be included with the group leader’s registration. There are
two types of chaperones:
• those adults registered to attend the adult classes
• those registered only as a Chaperone and only attending classes with
the children and/or youth.
Those registered as Chaperones must check in with all other registered attendees to receive a badge for admittance to children/youth events and to
sign up to assist with particular classes.
Handbells
Beginning, intermediate and advanced handbell choirs are offered. Advanced
handbell choir counts towards PAM certification. (Intermediate and Advanced
choirs meet for two rehearsals each day.) Several choirs will play for worship
and the Thursday evening concert. If you are not sure which class level is for
you, see below. Music packet is purchased at registration. Bring gloves and
music folders/stands with you.
Handbell Classifications
Handbell levels are explained here:
www.PresbyMusic.org/hb.html
Beginning – A beginning ringer should have a basic understanding of music
reading. The beginning ringing class will utilize Level 1 handbell music. This
group does not perform outside of the classroom setting.
Intermediate – An intermediate
ringer should have solid
experience with handbells and
good music reading skills. The
intermediate ringer should
be comfortable with Level 2 Level 3 handbell music. Some
experience with multiple bell
techniques (Shelley and fourin-hand) and/or lower bass
experience is a plus. This group
will perform in the Thursday
evening concert.
Advanced – An advanced
ringer should have extensive
experience with Level 3 - Level
4 literature and with multiple
bell techniques or lower bass
bell experience. This group
performs in the Thursday
evening concert. Advanced
handbells counts toward PAM
certification.
Vocal Choirs
Adult Choir +
This choir is open to all registered adult conferees. Two rehearsals each day
prepare the choir to sing for worship and for the Thursday evening concert. A
music packet is provided, and will be distributed at registration. Each participant
will receive one ensemble packet. Additional packets are available for purchase.
Adult choir counts towards PAM certification.
+Routley Lecture
Join Andrew Fullerton for a series of lectures on the power of congregational
singing.
+Liturgical Art Studio
Experience making art that will grace our worship space with Kathy Courtney.
The class will focus on fabric painting techniques. Please note: This class has
a limited enrollment and meets from 3:30 - 5:20 PM Monday - Wednesday.
Youth Choir
This choir is required for all youth conferees. Two rehearsals each day prepare
this choir to sing for worship and for the Thursday evening concert. A music
packet is provided, and will be distributed at registration. Each participant will
receive one ensemble packet. Additional packets are available for purchase.
+Vocal Techniques (Youth and Adults / Young Adults)
Author of The Heart of Singing: Steps on a Path to Becoming the Singer You
Want to Be, Diane Haslam offers her insight into singing in a healthy and holistic
way.
Children’s Choir
This choir is required for all child conferees. Two rehearsals each day prepare
this choir to sing for worship and for the Thursday evening concert. A music
packet is provided, and will be distributed at registration. Each participant will
receive one ensemble packet. Additional packets are available for purchase.
+Cantor Class (Youth and Adults / Young Adults)
A class that will teach you how to be a Cantor and decipher the art of chanting
the Psalms. Diane Haslam will work with participants that would like to volunteer
to be a Cantor for worship services during the week.
Seminars and Additional Ensembles
+Instrumental Ensemble (Youth and Adults / Young Adults)
Opportunities for instrumentalists to rehearse and play for worship and other
conference events. Please indicate on your registration form the instrument
you play and will bring with you.
+Bible Study
An adult Bible study will be lead each day, by Michael Waschevski. The study
will relate to the theme of the conference and scriptures read in worship.
+Preaching Seminar
Margaret Aymer Oget, our conference preacher, will lead the class.
+Worship Reflections
This seminar will allow conferees to discuss our daily worship service with
the planners and leaders worship. This is an excellent opportunity to reflect
together about what happens in worship, why certain decisions were made,
and where other options might have been chosen.
+Organ Seminar (Youth and Adults / Young Adults)
Michael Burkhardt, our conference organist, will share practical skills for
creative service playing, hymn playing, etc.
+Drumming Circle (Youth and Adults / Young Adults)
Author of the soon to be released Drumming in the Church, Brian Hehn will
teach you the art of group drumming. Drums will be provided, but if you have a
djembe, please feel free to bring it with you.
+PAM Professional Concerns
Join our PAM representative to discuss employment in the PC(USA), PAM
Certification and other topics.
Reading Sessions
Choir and Handbell directors will share new repertoire, and ways in which you
may wish to use and teach them to the choir.
(Monday - Adult; Tuesday - Children/Youth; Wednesday - Handbells)
+ denotes classes that count toward PAM Certification.