The 2020 National Pastoral Musicians Convention, scheduled to be held in Louisville July 7 to 10, has moved from an in-person conference to a virtual format.
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, organizers of the event made the decision to transition to an online experience.
The theme for the 2020 gathering is “Called from Living Waters.” Participants will be able to remotely take part in the four-day virtual convention experience that will include keynote talks, breakout sessions, a virtual exhibit hall and daily prayer experiences.
Dr. Karen Shadle, director of the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Worship, said the NPM convention typically attracts about 1,500 participants.
“Ordinarily the convention is exclusively for people in music ministry, however with the content available virtually, I think there is a possibility of a broader audience this year,” said Shadle, one of the event’s organizers.
Two events that may draw more widespread interest, Shadle said, are a virtual organ crawl and a virtual tour of the Kentucky Holy Land.
The organ event will take place June 26 at 7 p.m. and will explore organs at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, St. Margaret Mary Church and the First Church of Christ Scientist.
The Kentucky Holy Land tour will take place July 6 at 1 p.m. and will feature significant Catholic sites in the counties of Washington, Nelson and Marion.
These two events cost $30 each. Those interested may register for them individually and do not have to register for the full conference.
Organizers of the convention have also made efforts to address current events. Sessions will cover how music ministry looks in the midst of the pandemic, as well as ways to be more inclusive within music ministry, Shadle said.
Full registration for the event costs $295, which includes access to all virtual content, livestream and interactive options for the convention. Registration for youth participants is $225 and $205 for seminarians.
Other registration options include group registrations for $265, limited registration for $195 and one-day registrations for $95.
For more information about the conference or to register, click here.
