The Office of Worship and Liturgy is pleased to announce our upcoming formation event, the Sacred Music Summit. This event is open to all choir directors, organists, and all those responsible for planning music for parish liturgies.
When: Thursday, October 2, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Diocese of Gaylord Pastoral Center, Gaylord
Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Horst Buchholz
Director of Sacred Music
Archdiocese of Detroit
Dr. MeeAe Cecilia Nam
Professor of Voice
Eastern Michigan University
- Schedule
- Keynotes
Keynote #1 (Buchholz) – The Ultimate Church Musician
To become an exceptional church musician, one must develop both technical mastery and spiritual depth, ensuring that every note serves the liturgy with reverence and clarity. Understanding sacred music traditions—such as Gregorian chant, polyphony, and hymnody—is essential, as is the ability to adapt and lead with humility. Above all, the perfect church musician listens: to the needs of the congregation, the guidance of the Church, and the quiet voice of God within the music itself.
Keynote #2 (Nam) - Concepts and Skills for Efficient Singing in Sacred Worship
This session will unveil essential concepts and skills for effective singing in sacred worship. We will emphasize proper voice use, thoughtful repertoire selection, and various singing styles, while also exploring the vital roles of cantors, soloists/psalmists, and choristers. Attendees will learn the importance of cultivating a spiritually receptive mindset in their approach to sacred music.
- Practicums
Practicum #1 (Buchholz) - Leading the Choir: Essential Conducting Skills for Everyone
Being an effective conductor requires a solid understanding of musical structure, clear gestures, and awareness of the ensemble. Strong leadership and communication skills are also crucial. In planning a rehearsal, it's vital to set clear goals, know the music thoroughly, anticipate challenges, and strike a balance between productivity and musicality. In this practical session, we will discuss how to start a piece by establishing tempo and mood with preparatory gestures, along with providing clear cues that signal closure without disrupting the flow. Conducting metric music involves consistent beat patterns and dynamic shaping, while conducting chant requires flexible, expressive gestures that follow the natural rhythm of the text.
Practicum #2 (Nam) - Techniques for Every Church Musician
Join us for hands-on exercises and demonstrations focused on practical vocal and mental techniques tailored for church musicians. This session will cover effective breath control, clear tone development, and expressive singing methods—all designed to enhance your performance in sacred worship settings.
- Diocesan Gregorian Schola
The newly established Gregorian Schola, under the direction of Rita McIntyre and Kirsten Trudeau and featuring members from across our diocese, aims to present sacred music concerts throughout the Diocese of Gaylord. Their repertoire spans from Gregorian Chant to newly composed Sacred music in the classical style. This initiative provides the faithful of our Diocese the opportunity to experience the beauty of sacred music. Additionally, the Schola seeks to promote collaboration and fellowship among the musicians within our Diocese.
The Sacred Music Summit will conclude with a concert from the Gregorian Schola.
- Speaker Biography: Dr. Horst Buchholz
A native of Germany, Horst received his first musical training in a boys’ choir. After studies in organ, church music, and theory at the University of Arts in Berlin, he continued his studies in conducting at Indiana University where he earned the Doctor of Music degree.
Dr. Buchholz has been active as a performer, scholar, and educator. He has played recitals in cathedrals and concert halls around the world, and has conducted choral ensembles, symphony orchestras, and opera productions. For 10 years he was the Music Director of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Buchholz is also co-founder and Artistic Director of Pro-Arte Saint Louis, a professional vocal ensemble dedicated to Early Music.
Buchholz was the organist at Berlin’s Basilica of St. John’s and Director of Music at Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. In Cleveland he served as Canon for Music and Worship at Trinity Cathedral where he also directed a busy concert series. He comes to Detroit after ten years as Director of Sacred Music at the Cathedral Basilica and Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Dr. Buchholz has taught at the University of Denver, Cleveland State University, Washington University of St. Louis, and seminaries in Denver and St. Louis. He also serves as Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America. He is married to Dr. Meeae Cecilia Nam, who serves on the voice faculty of Eastern Michigan University.
- Speaker Biography: Dr. MeeAe Cecilia Nam
Dr. Nam earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Dr. Nam joined the faculty of the School of Music and Dance at Eastern Michigan University in 2009 as assistant professor of voice. She previously taught voice at Metropolitan State College of Denver where she served as chair of the vocal studies program for five years and also founded and directed the annual "Vocal Arts Competition for Young Colorado Musicians".
As lecturer and vocal clinician Dr. Nam frequently travels throughout the United States and South Korea to give vocal workshops at conferences and universities. Repeatedly, she was a guest recitalist and lecturer for the Colorado State Music Teacher's Association and also gave a lecture recital at the MTNA National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her students have been active in national and international competitions and music festivals. This year Dr. Nam appeared as advisor and guest artist clinician in the first annual "Seoul International Opera Festival," where three of her students performed lead roles in Mozart's The Magic Flute.
With her husband, Dr. Horst Buchholz, organist and conductor, she has given numerous recitals for organ and voice in Germany and Austria including performances during the Salzburg International Summer Music Festival. Her excellent understanding of works by Mozart led her to perform many soprano solos in Mozart's sacred works, as well as "Requiem" and "Exultate, jubilate" with the Mozarteum Orchestra in the 250th anniversary year of Mozart's birth during Salzburg Festival. This year she will appear as guest artist in Bach's "Wedding Cantata" with the Boulder Bach Festival and in Monteverdi's "Love Songs" with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. Read more.
