2026 Choral Tune-Up
Making music across generations.
Saturday, January 31st, 2026
9:00am - 12:30pm
Roseville Lutheran Church
1315 Roselawn Avenue, Roseville, MN 55113
With optional Conductor & Educator Sessions on Friday, January 30th from 5pm-9pm.
Pre-registration is required.
Elaine Hagenberg
Jennaya Robison
What you’ll experience:
Enjoy a morning workshop of singing with acclaimed composer Elaine Hagenberg and NLC Artistic Director Jennaya Robison. Singers work in a rehearsal setting alongside members of the National Lutheran Choir learning 4-5 choral selections led by the clinicians. The event concludes with a mini performance by the National Lutheran Choir.
Featuring Hagenberg's music alongside new anthems for church, school, and community choirs, this annual festival promises to be an invigorating morning of making music together.
Who can attend:
We invite singers of all backgrounds to join us. Whether you sing in a school choir (grades 7-12), community ensemble, church choir, or have never sung in a choir before in your life, we welcome you to raise your voices with 400+ other singers who love music as much as you do!
What else should you know:
You can register as an individual, or register a group of singers (e.g. school choir, church choir, community ensemble.) If you’re a conductor, educator or future educator pursuing a degree in music who is looking to advance your skills and techniques, we have a special Conductor Track opportunity built just for you.
Music we’ll sing together
The repertoire for this year’s Choral Tune-Up includes:
Awake My Soul, by Elaine Hagenberg (Beckenhorst Press)
How Firm a Foundation, by Emma Lou Diemer (Hinshaw Music)
O Love, by Elaine Hagenberg (Beckenhorst Press)
Peace I Leave With You, by Amy Beach (Public Domain)
My Song in the Night, by Elaine Hagenberg (Walton Music)
Registration Options
Below select how you’d like to register for the Choral Tune-Up.
NOTE: If you are an educator or director that would like to bring a group of youth singers to the event, please contact NLC’s Director of Education & Outreach, Erin Gaffaney.
Individual or Group
Want to sing with 500+ choral lovers like you?
Register as an individual adult singer, or a group of singers. If you’re a church choir director registering your choir, use this link to register your group.
Conductor or Educator
Looking for a unique learning experience with your fellow conductors?
If you’re a conductor who is looking to advance your skills and techniques, consider our Conductor Track.
Youth Singer
Do you love singing and want to learn new music from an award-winning composer?
If you are an educator or director that would like to bring a group of youth singers to the event, please contact NLC’s Director of Education & Outreach, Erin Gaffaney.
This link will direct you to CourseStorm to complete registration.
Individual Singer or Group of Singers
If you are a church choir director looking to register your choir, please complete the registration linked below.
Program Activities:
Singers will participate in Saturday morning’s Choral Tune-Up activities with clinicians on Saturday, January 31st from 9am-12:30pm.
Registration Fee:
Individual: $25 PLUS a music packet ($13/packet)
Group: $70 for a church choir PLUS music packets for each singer ($13/packet)
Music Selections (included in the packet)
Awake My Soul, by Elaine Hagenberg (Beckenhorst Press)
How Firm a Foundation, by Emma Lou Diemer (Hinshaw Music)
O Love, by Elaine Hagenberg (Beckenhorst Press)
Peace I Leave With You, by Amy Beach (Public Domain)
My Song in the Night, by Elaine Hagenberg (Walton Music)
Enjoy a morning of making music with our expert clinicians alongside members of the National Lutheran Choir and singers like you from across the midwest!
Conductor and Educator Track
Led by Dr. Jennaya Robison, the Conductor Track is for church choir directors, career music professionals and future music educators/professionals.
Friday, January 30th from 5-9pm, AND
Saturday, January 31st from 9am-3pm
Program Activities:
Friday, January 30th from 5pm-9pm
Welcome Reception, Buffet Dinner & Round Table Discussion
Interest Session led by Dr. Jennaya Robison
Conducting Masterclass Dr. Jennaya Robison (3 conductors will be chosen by application)
Saturday, January 31st from 9am-3pm
Morning TuneUp Workshop
Box Lunch and Round Table Discussion
Afternoon Choral Reading Session
Registration Fee:
Full Conductor Track of Friday and Saturday activities:
Friday & Saturday: $65
Friday & Saturday Student Rate:$30
For those unable to participate in both days of the Conductor Track, the following options are also available:
Friday Only: $30
Friday Only Student: $15
Saturday Only: $40
Saturday Only Student: $20
Music selections for both Saturday morning’s Choral Tune-Up and Choral Reading Session are included in the registration fees listed above.
Learn from NLC Artistic Director Jennaya Robison, discuss relevant topics with fellow colleagues, and try out some new music selections in this Conductor Track built to help you expand your practice.
Youth Singers
Singers grades 7-12 are invited to join us for a morning of music-making with singers of all ages!
If you are an educator or director that would like to bring a group of youth singers to the event, please contact NLC’s Director of Education & Outreach, Erin Gaffaney.
Program Activities:
Singers will participate in Saturday morning’s Choral Tune-Up activities with clinicians on Saturday, January 31st from 9am-12:30pm.
Registration Fee:
Individual: $15 (includes the cost of a music packet.)
We believe that no monetary barriers should exist for young singers who wish to take part in this event. If this is your situation, please use the discount code YOUTH to register at no cost to you.
Music Selections (included in the packet)
Awake My Soul, by Elaine Hagenberg (Beckenhorst Press)
How Firm a Foundation, by Emma Lou Diemer (Hinshaw Music)
O Love, by Elaine Hagenberg (Beckenhorst Press)
Peace I Leave With You, by Amy Beach (Public Domain)
My Song in the Night, by Elaine Hagenberg (Walton Music)
Sing with people of all ages who love music as much as you do, and get a chance to meet award-winning composer Elaine Hagenberg!
This link will direct you to CourseStorm to complete registration.
Our Tune-Up Clinicians
Elaine Hagenberg
Elaine is an American composer, choral conductor, and clinician known for her eloquent and resourceful choral works that are popular with choirs of all levels. Hagenberg’s award-winning compositional style is profoundly influenced by her connection to nature, beauty, and spiritual reflection. Drawing inspiration from the vivid imagery and themes found in poetry, she crafts intricate musical textures that enrich her narratives creating immersive experiences that connect listeners to both the complexity and awe of the natural world and the profound depths of shared human emotion.. Elaine’s music has been performed globally at venues like Carnegie Hall and the Vatican. She holds a music education degree from Drake University.
Jennaya Robison
Jennaya Robison is the Artistic Director of the National Lutheran Choir and is a highly accomplished conductor, educator, and vocalist. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, the Master of Music in conducting and voice from the University of New Mexico, and an undergraduate degree in music (music education and voice) from Luther College. Her extensive work in the field of choral conducting includes serving as the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory until 2023, Associate Professor of Choral Music at Luther College from 2013 to 2020 and founding Scottsdale Musical Arts in 2009.
Listen to Elaine Hagenberg’s Music
The NLC has performed a few of Elaine Hagenberg’s pieces over the last few years. Get a flavor for the type of music you’ll enjoy at the Tune-Up!
What is the Choral Tune-Up?
The Choral Tune-Up is an opportunity for singers, music educators, and directors from throughout the region to join singers from the National Lutheran Choir to learn about choral music and vocal techniques from world-class clinicians. Together we explore repertoire easy to use with a church choir, school group, or volunteer ensemble.
Join us each winter to connect with other singers, learn new music, and work with our special guest clinicians.
Interested in bringing a group of students?
Hi, my name is Erin Gaffaney, and I’m the Director of Education and Community Outreach!
If you’d like to bring a group of students to the Choral Tune-Up, please get in touch via the form below.
