From July 26 to 29, 1998, seventy-five people gathered to enjoy the first national conference of UCCMA held at the Trinity Conference Center in beautiful Cornwall, Connecticut. Worship services took place at the Cornwall Village Meetinghouse, the chapel of the Kent School and the intimate North Cornwall Meetinghouse lit only by candlelight. The pastoral country surroundings coupled with the historic venues and excellent music-making made for a memorable experience.

These workshops were offered:

• New and Nearly New Anthems for All

• Children’s Choir Program

• What’s New in Hymn-Tune Preludes?

• You Just Think You Can’t Improvise!

• Creative Use of Handbells in Worship

All conference attendees participated in either the conference choir or the conference bell choir, both of which performed for the closing worship service. Rehearsals held daily for the entire assembly served double duty as preparation for the service and as a workshop on conducting and rehearsal techniques.

Some notable conference presenters included:

• Marguerite Brooks, associate professor of choral conducting at Yale University who served as the choral director-in-residence

• The Woodland Scholars, a professional choral ensemble directed by Larry Allen

• Joseph Neville, western regional minister for the Connecticut Conference, UCC

• David Spicer, minister of music at First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, CT and his adult choir

• Lillian Fant Daniel, senior minister of Church of the Redeemer UCC in New Haven, CT

• Beverly Simpson, conference handbell director

The four worship services explored three different styles of music: Taize, blended and traditional.

Everyone participated in a plenary session titled “What is Our Song?” that addressed the theme of Conference 1998.

Deemed a critical success, this inaugural national conference became the model for conferences to follow.