New Music. New Life.
CFAMC National Conference 2024
Who we are
CFAMC seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and help build His kingdom by encouraging the work and witness of Christian composers of symphonic and chamber music, opera, and other concert works. We pray that believers will embrace our musical integrity because of our Christian witness, and that our commitment to musical excellence will allow us to bring our Christian witness to the wider art music world. Located throughout the United States and abroad, CFAMC members are professional and academic composers (faculty and students), avocational composers, church musicians interested in art music, and other individuals who support the CFAMC mission and want to be involved in our activities. Among these, CFAMC is pleased to include a number of Honorary Members, including composer James MacMillan and musician/theologian Jeremy Begbie.
CFAMC is governed by a Board of Directors, from within which is elected a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Though it is not elected directly by CFAMC members, the Board is advised and assisted by an Advisory Committee that is elected by the broader CFAMC membership.
What we do
CFAMC seeks to fulfill its mission through facilitating Christian fellowship among its members. “Fellowship” in this context centers on the meaning of the Greek New Testament word koinonia, and suggests communication, sharing, intercessory prayer, mutual support and the encouragement of spiritual growth, all in a Christian context. While CFAMC also undertakes certain other activities that support our mission, these are governed by the primary purpose of koinonia between Christian composers and the overflow of that Gospel fellowship to other art music composers.
National and Regional Conferences – CFAMC has mounted regular national and regional gatherings since 1995. These conferences typically include opportunities to share music formally and informally among members and with the public, papers and presentations, worship, prayer and discussion, local culture, and unscheduled time for informal fellowship. National Conferences occur on an annual basis and in recent years the Fellowship as adopted an alternating west coast/east coast/mid-America pattern. Recent national conferences have been held in California, New York, Ohio, and Mississippi. Additionally, regional conferences are schedule on a semi-regular basis, especially in regions with high concentrations of members. Recent regional conferences have been held in New York and California. In keeping with its mission, CFAMC strives to construct events that emphasize encouragement, humility and service rather than competition and accolade.
Professional conference/festival activities – CFAMC encourages its members to engage professionally in organizations, conferences, festivals and other events that are relevant to their work and witness as Christian art music composers. These include the activities of such groups as the College Music Society, Society of Composers, Inc., American Composers Forum and regional organizations such as the Iowa Composers Forum, but also events that address Christianity, culture and the arts. CFAMC advertises such activities to its members, attempts to ascertain which members might be planning to attend various conferences/festivals each year, and, when appropriate, attempts to facilitate opportunities for fellowship among CFAMC members at the events identified.
The CFAMC website – This is the most comprehensive place for CFAMC news and information. The site also contains past issues of the newsletter, a list of members with contact information, links to other relevant sites, CFAMC bylaws, and a listening page (updated monthly) featuring thoughts and music by a selected CFAMC member.
Online Connection – All members of CFAMC are encouraged to join the Facebook group and Instagram, which are excellent sources of regular updates on the professional activities of the Fellowship members.
The CFAMC email discussion list – Here members can communicate news and ideas of interest to the entire Fellowship. The list is free and open to the public, serving as part of CFAMC’s witness across the Internet (though registration is required and content is monitored).
What We Believe
Although members of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers are not required to affirm any particular statement of Christian doctrine, the CFAMC official statement of doctrine consists of the historic Apostles Creed, which appears below. As required by the Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors and all elected or appointed officers of CFAMC do subscribe to this Creed personally and as a guide to official deliberations.
The Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.”
Disclaimer of Liability
With respect to documents available from this server, the non-profit organization The Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, including all of its officers, agents, servants and employees and appointed or elected officials, past, present and future (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the Organization”), does not make any warranty, expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed on the server. Likewise, the Organization does not represent that the use of any such document, information, apparatus, product or process will not infringe privately owned rights.
Disclaimer of Endorsement
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or preference by the non profit organization The Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect the attitudes and opinions of the Organization. Those views and opinions shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes without the express, written consent of the designated non profit organization.