Church music for tomorrow

The future of music in the church depends on training and inspiring new generations of singers and instrumentalists. Ronald A. Nelson has been a leader in developing the choral arts. In honor of his 80th birthday, Kirk House Publishers (888-696-1828) has brought out With a Voice of Singing: Essays on Children, Choirs, and Music in the Church, edited by Zebulon M. Highben and Kristina M. Langlois.

For 37 years Nelson was music director at Westwood Lutheran Church, St. Louis Park, Minn., where he built a program of great breadth and depth. One of his most significant accomplishments was establishing a children’s choir school. He is also a teacher and composer of note, as well as a frequent guest conductor.