The Saint Simons Sacred Music Festival, founded in 2019, is an event inspired by the Music and Worship services of the American Choral Directors Association National Conference. Its goal is to further our sense of community through the healing powers of music. It is a completely non-denominational endeavour open to any and all singers who wish to make our Golden Isles an even better place to be. It also exists to introduce new music to our worship community and to support contemporary composers in the genre of sacred music. We hosted our inaugural composer and clinician Elaine Hagenberg in 2019, and reemerged from COVID with renowned choral composer and clinician Craig Courtney in March of 2022, esteemed conductor Dr. Z. Randall Stroope in 2023, and renowned as our composer-in-residence Dan Forrest in 2024. This year we are thrilled to host Kyle Pederson, who is completing this year’s anthem for its world premiere at our festival! You can read more about Kyle and listen to some samples of his music HERE. Mr. Pederson will accompany the choir and lead our rehearsals of his music throughout the weekend, culminating at a special service Saturday, Feb. 1st at 3:30 p.m. at St. Simons Island United Methodist Church. Join our festival choir! Registration fees for this year are $119 per person, with a group discount available to groups of eight or more. This includes all music, a meet-&-greet reception with our guest clinician, and participation in a world premiere! Our service, Sing for Community, Sing for Peace, is open to everyone. Donations at the door are warmly encouraged and appreciated.
