Planning Team
Conference Director - Ken Courtney, CCM, Director of Music, First
Presbyterian Church, Aiken, SC
Howard Reed, PAM Board Representative, Pastor, First
Presbyterian Church, Conway, AR
2015 Mo-Ranch/PAM
Worship and Music Conference
David VanderMeer, 2006 Mo-Ranch/PAM Conference Director,
Director of Music and Fine Arts Ministries, Central Presbyterian
Church, Atlanta, GA
Ken Gould, Director of Special Projects, Mo-Ranch Conference
Center, Hunt, TX
Beth Thompson, Assistant Chancel Choir Director, First
Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX
Chelsea Stearn, Music Associate, First Presbyterian Church, Fort
Worth, TX
William McConnell, PAM Executive Director, Louisville, KY
502-569-5288
www.PresbyMusic.org
[email protected]
You Thirsty Ones, 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.
Conference Faculty

Margaret Aymer Oget, Preacher, Associate Professor of New Testament,
Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA.
Michael Waschevski, Adult Bible Study, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian
Church, Fort Worth, TX.
Michael Burkhardt, Organist, Director of Worship and the Arts, Holy Cross
Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan, Composer.
Andrew Fullerton, Routley Lecturer, Presbyterian Church of Canada Pastor
and Theologian, Stratford, Ontario
Ken Courtney, CCM, Conference Director
Elizabeth Schauer, Adult Choir Director, Associate Director of Choral Activities
and Associate Professor of Music, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Planning Team Members:
Howard Reed, PAM Board Representative
David VanderMeer, 2016 Conference Director
Ken Gould, Mo-Ranch Director of Special Projects
Beth Thompson
Chelsea Stearn
William McConnell, PAM Executive Director
Cari Earnhardt, Youth Choir Clinician, Choral Conductor, American University
of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
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!
On-site registration check-in for the conference opens at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday
and gather for opening worship at 7:30 p.m. The conference concludes with a
Festival Concert on Thursday evening.
Questions about registration? Please contact the PAM National Office 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
Tom Shelton, Children’s Choir Director, Assistant Professor of Sacred Music
at Westminster Choir College, Rider University, Princeton, NJ.
Carla A. David, Advanced and Intermediate Handbell Clinician, Director of
Handbell Ministries, First United Methodist Church, Round Rock, TX.
Susan LaPointe, Children’s Chimes and Beginning Handbells, Emmanuel
Presbyterian Church, Bedford, TX.
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.
John Leedy, Youth Activities and Bible Study, Associate Pastor for Youth and
Family Ministries, University Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX.
Krystal Leedy, Youth Activities and Bible Study, Director of Campus Ministry,
University Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX.
Kathy Courtney, Adult Liturgical Arts Studio Class, Free-lance Interior
Designer, Aiken, SC.
Richard Holsomback, Instrumental Ensemble Director, Band Director,
Longview Texas.
Jimmie Homburg, Children’s Art Classes, retired school teacher, Horseshoe
Bay, TX.
Cassie Johnson, Children’s Art Classes, retired school teacher, Cypress, TX.
LuAnn Lane, Adult Choir Accompanist, Midland, TX, Instructor, Odessa
College.
Jane Van Valkenburg, Youth Choir Accompanist, Houston, TX.
Beverly Chesire, Children’s Choir Accompanist, Cuero, TX.
Age Classifications
Handbells/Chimes
Mo/PAM 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.
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 non-participating adults registered only as a chaperone and only
attending classes with the children and/or youth.
Those registered as non-participating 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. One music packet per registrant is provided. Additional music
packets can be 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 and young adult conferees. Two
rehearsals each day prepare the choir to sing for worship and for the Thursday
evening concert. Each participant will receive one music packet at registration.
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. Each
participant will receive one music packet at registration. 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. Each
participant will receive one music packet at registration. Additional packets are
available for purchase at registration.
+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 led 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 address issues faced by
preachers as they prepare to lead in worship.
+Worship Reflections
This seminar will allow conferees to discuss our daily worship service with the
planners and leaders. 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 Development
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.