Brennan Michaels
Session 3
Thursday March 10th - 9:45am
"A More Excellent Way" | Blank Slate Worship
Session Description
Without a doubt, communities of faith were overwhelmed with emotion when they first reopened for in-person singing. However, if coming “back to normal” was always the goal, then we’ve missed a blank slate opportunity. This session dares you to challenge your singers in thinking about, as congressman John Lewis says, “a more excellent way” of leading your congregation from a “play it safe” mentality to a participatory worship experience that is inclusive of multicultural and multigenerational communities. We will explore how reconciliation has been rooted in scriptural worship from the start, how breath is both a technical and spiritual component, and how vulnerability through repertoire selection and delivery must be at the heart of your choir’s mission to lead communities in worship.
Clinician Bio
Dr. Brennan Michaels is Director of Music and Worship at Bellevue Presbyterian Church. At BelPres, Brennan conducts multiple choral and instrumental ensembles and oversees a robust K-12 youth choral program. Brennan was recently appointed as conductor of the Concert Choir at Northwest University. Before relocating to Washington, Brennan was Director of Choirs at Live Oak Classical School in Texas and Sartell High School in Minnesota. From 2012-2015 Brennan served as Artistic Director of the Minneapolis chamber choir From Age to Age. Brennan received his D.M.A. in choral conducting from Michigan State University, his M.M. from Baylor University, and his B.M. from Concordia College.