DAVID CHERWIEN, Organ Clinician & Hymn Festival Leader
David is a nationally known conductor, composer, and organist. Recognized for his contributions to
the field of church music and liturgy, he is often called upon to serve as clinician and hymn festival
leader across the country. David served as Cantor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
from 2001-2024, continuing the tradition of creative hymn singing begun and sustained by
predecessors Paul Manz and Mark Sedio. From 2001 until 2022 he also served as Artistic Director of
the National Lutheran Choir. Prior to these, David served church music positions in Minneapolis,
Chicago, Seattle, and Berlin, Germany. David has composed and published a considerable
amount of music for the church with several publishers. During his time with the National Lutheran
Choir he served as editor of the National Lutheran Choir Series of choral music published by
Morningstar Music Publishers and produced many recordings – including the “Hymns We Love To
Sing” series, still available at www.nlca.com. He is a founding member of the Association of Lutheran
Church Musicians and has served in its leadership in a variety of capacities, including as National
President from 1993 to 1997.
MARK SEDIO, Adult Choral Director
Mark currently serves as Cantor at Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis. Previously he served as
Cantor at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis, 2000-2023, Cantor at Mount Olive
Lutheran (Minneapolis) from 1974-2000 and Director of Music at Saint Paul’s Lutheran in Davenport,
(IA) 1979-1982. Mark is an active recitalist, clinician, conductor, educator, and composer, with over
125 of his compositions for organ, piano, choral and instrumental ensembles available from a variety
of publishers. He attended Augsburg College, University of Iowa, Luther Seminary and St. John’s
University. An ordained deacon in the ELCA, Sedio lives in the Twin Cities with his spouse Jeffrey
Sartain, an ELCA pastor.
SANDRA EITHUN, Handbell Ensembles Director
Sandra is a composer, educator, handbell clinician, and conductor in Wisconsin and across the
country. Sandra serves as the Director of Fox Valley Bronze and on the faculty of Valley Troubadours,
both in Appleton, WI. She has over 650 pieces for handbells in publication as well as several sacred
keyboard books and teaching collections for the incorporation of handbells in the music classroom.
Her compositions have been featured on the PBS Christmas Special Holiday Handbells, in concert by
the Raleigh Ringers and The Bells on Temple Square in Salt lake City, UT. Previously, Sandra served as
Director of Music Ministry at First Congregationalist UCC in New London, WI from 1992-2021 as
handbell and children’s choir director / organist, directed the Silver Lake College Handbell ensemble
from 2009-2020 and the handbell program at Holy Family Conservatory of Music in Manitowoc, WI
from 2021-2025. Sandra is a graduate of Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI, with an emphasis in the
Kodály teaching method, keyboard, and flute, M.M.Ed. She is an active member of the Handbell
Musicians of America and has served on their Area VII Board of Directors. Sandra is married to Scott,
has four grown children & four grandchildren, and currently resides in Appleton, WI.
PASTOR JEFF SARTAIN, Chaplain
Jeff serves as Pastor at Edina Community Lutheran Church in Edina, Minnesota. A native of a small
Minnesota town, Jeff has spent more than thirty years in parish ministry and brings a deep love of
preaching, teaching, and helping people connect faith with everyday life. He holds a Doctor of
Ministry degree and has particular interests in community life, hospitality, and the ways beauty and
creativity nurture faith. Outside of church, Jeff enjoys time with his husband, musician and composer
Mark Sedio, and their beloved dog, Ibsen. He’s a knitter, a Norwegian language learner, and a firm
believer that laughter and grace belong in the same key. At camp this summer, Jeff look
MARK JOHANSON, Collaborative Keyboard, Adult Choir
Mark serves as Minister of Music & Worship at Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC. A church
musician since the age of 12, Mark leads the 11-member Music/Worship/Tech staff at Christ Lutheran
which oversees scores of volunteer musicians and worship leaders serving in both traditional and
contemporary worship. Before his current position at Christ Lutheran, Mark had the opportunity to
work as the Associate Minister of Music at Christ Lutheran under Mark Glaeser. Having worked in both
LCMS and ELCA congregations, Mark holds a strong desire for finding unity across synodical lines,
seeking ways for Lutherans to be united in their ministry and calling for the sake of the Kingdom. He
earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Valparaiso University, studying collaborative
piano with Joseph Bognar and organ with Lorraine Brugh. He is a past Dean of the Charlotte chapter
of the American Guild of Organists, and holds membership in the AGO and ALCM.
CAROLINE TYREE, Flute Choir, Instrumentals
Caroline serves as the Music Assistant at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Mooresville, NC, leading worship
from the piano, teaching Beginning Bells, and leading the Ukulele Choir. Caroline is an accomplished
handbell ringer, formerly performing with the Charlotte Bronze. When she is not making music and
serving in her church community, she enjoys crafting, reading, and teaching tricks to her cat, Taquito.
RICK KILGORE, Recorder Choir
Rick retired in 2023 to Suwanee, Georgia after serving as Director of Music in Lutheran churches for
40+ years. He directed Chancel Choirs, Praise Teams, Handbell Choirs, Recorder Consorts, and Youth
Orchestras. He coordinated volunteer directors of children’s choirs and Gospel Choirs. Rick earned a
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC and studied
Sacred Music in the Masters program at Mercer University, Atlanta. His hobbies include travel,
singing, ringing, and genealogical research.
KAREN AREHEART IVES Collaborative Keyboard, Augsburg Fortress Session & Display, First/Kidz Camp Choir
Director of Music at St. Stephen Lutheran, Williamsburg, VA and Accompanist for the Williamsburg
Choral Guild. She regularly assists Augsburg Fortress Publishers with music clinic events around the
US. She is past accompanist and keyboard clinician for Lutheridge Music Week and Massanetta
Springs (Harrisonburg, VA). Karen has served Lutheran churches in South Carolina (Columbia area)
and North Carolina (Arden). Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Wittenberg University
(Springfield, OH) and Master in Piano Performance degree from University of South Carolina
(Columbia, SC). Vocal Performance degree at Columbia College and was the Faculty Staff
accompanist for eighteen years at Columbia College and taught their pre-college program and
class piano in the music department. Karen is a member of Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
& American Guild of Organists.
KAROL KINARD KIMMELL, Program Co-Director, First/Kidz Camp Choir
Karol retired from full-time church work in 2024 after serving for 26 years as Director of Children &
Youth Music, All Saints’ Episcopal, Atlanta, developing a graded choir program for singers PreK-12th &
ringers 4th-12th. Currently, Co-Director & faculty for the Choristers Guild Institute, a continuing
education program for directors of children’s & youth choirs. As an active clinician, Karol has
presented at Westminster Choir College’s Kemp Symposium, The Hymn Society, Shenandoah Summer
Institute of Church Music, ALCM national conferences, and statewide and national ACDA
conferences. She has conducted choirs at Lake Junaluska, Massanetta Springs, NC Elementary All-State, First Plymouth Nebraska’s Abendmusic, and for Choristers Guild festivals in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA, Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA. Karol was honored to conduct a combined children’s choir at the ELCA 2019 Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee, WI. Before All Saints’, Karol was a preschool music teacher for 20+ years and served Lutheran, Presbyterian & Episcopal congregations as organist & choir director throughout the South. She directed the elementary choruses at Atlanta’s Paideia school and served on faculty for Young Lutherans Sing, 2005-2010 with
Michael Burkhardt. Karol attended Wittenberg University & Lenoir-Rhyne University (BME/organ).
ED TOMPKINS, Program Co-Director, Handbell Coordinator
Active as a conductor and clinician, Ed serves as Organist/Director of Music at St John in the
Wilderness Episcopal, Flat Rock, NC, playing services, directing the adult choir and overseeing an
active concert series. Ed recently served 21 years as Minister of Music at Morning Star Lutheran,
Matthews, NC. At Morning Star, Ed led a full program of vocal and handbell choirs for all ages and
instrumental ensembles. He previously served at River Road Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA. Ed
has presented workshops and directed festival handbell choirs throughout the Southeast. He earned
his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Religion from Duke University and his Master of Sacred Music (Organ
and Conducting) from Scarritt Graduate School, Nashville, TN. Ed has earned the CAGO: Colleague
of American Guild of Organists & has served as the Handbell Coordinator & clinician at church music
conferences at Montreat, Lake Junaluska, Lutheridge (NC), and Massanetta Springs (VA).
GEOFFREY GIBBONS, Music Week Area Director
Geoffrey recently joined the faculty as the Chorus Teacher at Chapin High School, Chapin, SC, his
alma mater. Previously, he was the Chorus Teacher at Chapin Middle School. Geoffrey has served as
Music Week Adult Area Director since 2015 and has been a Music Week participant/camper/senior
staff his whole life. When not teaching, Geoffrey enjoys spending time with his wife, Paige, and
daughters Reagan (5) and Avery (3), and son Mason (newborn). Geoffrey holds a Bachelor of Music
Education degree from Wingate University in Wingate, NC and a Master of Education Leadership
from Queens University in Charlotte, NC.
