Bethlehem Lutheran holds Hymn Festival

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee presented a special Hymn Festival on Sunday November 2nd at 3 p.m.

"Through the Church the Song Goes On: A Hymn Festival Celebrating the Time of Harvest" presented a series of 11 hymns, interspersed with reflective readings. The hymns were sung by the entire congregation, a mass choir of 60, or in some cases, a combination of both groups.

Funding for the concert was provided by the Enoch and Marie Nelson Endowment Fund, Dr. Paul Anderson, and Richard Jensen.

The choir, consisting of members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church choir, as well as other individuals from the Cherokee area, was under the direction of Dave Hickman of Cherokee, and Hickman also directed the Bethlehem Lutheran Hand-bell Choir.

Guest instrumentalists included Jason Heeren and Kurt Schwark on trumpet, Curt Ohrland and Ryan Rager on trombone, and Gail Bauler on flute.

A free-will offering was gathered, and the offerings will be divided between Mid Sioux Opportunity, Inc. of Cherokee and flood relief in Iowa. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will match up to $400 of funds received.

Following the Hymn Festival, everyone was invited to a reception in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church fellowship hall, where they enjoyed bars and got to meet the guest organist and his family.

Dr. Scott M. Hyslop, a native of Richfield, Minnesota, coordinated Sunday's program, and also served as guest organist. Dr. Hyslop currently serves as Director of Parish Music at the Lutheran Church at St. Lorenz in Frankenmuth, Michigan. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ and Sacred Music from the University of Michigan, studying organ with Marilyn Mason and composition with James Aikman.

Prior to his work in Michigan, Hyslop received a Bachelor of Science degree in music from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls and a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University in River Forest,Illinois. He has also studied composition with Conrad DeJong and Richard Hillert, and his organ instructors have included John Eggert, Steven Wente, Paul Manz and Maurice Clerc, at the Cathedral of St. Benigne in Dijon, France. Before coming to St. Lorenz, Dr.Hyslop served congregations in Minneapolis, Chicago and Stuart, Florida.

A frequent clinician and recitalist, Dr. Hyslop has presented recitals in Luebeck, Stockelsdorf, Hamburg and Gunzenhausen, Germany, as well as at various venues in the United States, and has also authored a book on the life and career of American organist and composer Paul Manz, entitled "The Journey Was Chosen: The Life and Work of Paul Manz," published by Morning Star Music Publishers.

Dr. Hyslop has also served as Editor of the Resource Center for "Grace Notes," the newsletter of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and has served in a variety of capacities for several professional music organizations.

Scott, his wife Dora and their son, Nicholas, reside in Birch Run, Michigan. Dora is the granddaughter of Frieda and the late Eitel Mohn of Cherokee, formerly of Aurelia.