Registration for 2026 Conference for Church Musicians Opens in January 2026

Join us in 2026 for a week of music making, worship, and rejuvenation!

Clinicians

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Joel Raney studied choral conducting at the University of North Alabama, and later received his Masters degree in Piano Performance from THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL. On Broadway he served as pianist and associate conductor for numerous shows including ME AND MY GIRL, THE TAP DANCE KID, and NITE-CLUB CONFIDENTIAL. Joel was musical director of L.A. and Chicago productions of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES for which he expanded his skill set to include playing the accordion and tap dancing at the same time. In Chicago he was honored with the Joseph Jefferson award for best Musical Direction for OIL CITY SYMPHONY.

Joel spent over two decades in Chicago creating more than 1000 scores for radio and television commercials, earning numerous awards, including a CLIO for best score of an American Airlines commercial. His music has been heard on countless commercials, including the famed United Airlines campaign in which he regularly performed RHAPSODY IN BLUE.

Today, Joel serves as executive editor at Hope Publishing Company in Chicago, where he applies his lifetime of musical experience to composing and publishing choral and instrumental music. He has hundreds of choral anthems in print with numerous publishers, as well as piano solo and duet books, Christmas musicals, handbell compositions, and other ensemble music. His works have been performed all over the world, including his Christmas Musical "Have You Heard" which he conducted at Carnegie Hall in 2024.

A sought-after choral and keyboard clinician, Joel stays busy conducting and performing piano concerts throughout the country. He resides in the Chicago area with his wife, Susie. They have three grown sons who live and work nearby.

ADULT CHORAL

Joel Raney

Joel Raney studied choral conducting at the University of North Alabama, and later received his Masters degree in Piano Performance from THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL. On Broadway he served as pianist and associate conductor for numerous shows including ME AND MY GIRL, THE TAP DANCE KID, and NITE-CLUB CONFIDENTIAL. Joel was musical director of L.A. and Chicago productions of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES for which he expanded his skill set to include playing the accordion and tap dancing at the same time. In Chicago he was honored with the Joseph Jefferson award for best Musical Direction for

OIL CITY SYMPHONY.

Joel spent over two decades in Chicago creating more than 1000 scores for radio and television commercials, earning numerous awards, including a CLIO for best score of an American Airlines commercial. His music has been heard on countless commercials, including the famed United Airlines campaign in which he regularly performed RHAPSODY IN BLUE.

Today, Joel serves as executive editor at Hope Publishing Company in Chicago, where he applies his lifetime of musical experience to composing and publishing choral and instrumental music. He has hundreds of choral anthems in print with numerous publishers, as well as piano solo and duet books, Christmas musicals, handbell compositions, and other ensemble music. His works have been performed all over the world, including his Christmas Musical "Have You Heard" which he conducted at Carnegie Hall in 2024.

A sought-after choral and keyboard clinician, Joel stays busy conducting and performing piano concerts throughout the country. He resides in the Chicago area with his wife, Susie. They have three grown sons who live and work nearby.

William H. Mathis retreaded after a 50-year career as a church musician. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, Bill served churches and colleges in the Midwest, California, and Oklahoma. He is an active clinician, leading workshops or guest conducting in 35 states. He is noted for a rehearsal style which leads to musical understanding. He is the founder and conductor of Bells of the Lakes, and has been the conductor of Chorus Polaris since 2017. Bill and Carolynne have lived in the Twin Cities for 30 years.

BELL CHOIR

Bill Mathis

William H. Mathis retreaded after a 50-year career as a church musician. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, Bill served churches and colleges in the Midwest, California, and Oklahoma. He is an active clinician, leading workshops or guest conducting in 35 states. He is noted for a rehearsal style which leads to musical understanding. He is the founder and conductor of Bells of the Lakes, and has been the conductor of Chorus Polaris since 2017. Bill and Carolynne have lived in the Twin Cities for 30 years.

Devon Steve is a Cleveland-area conductor, music educator, and performer. He holds a number of positions in Northeast Ohio. Since 2022, he has served as the Director of Music at University School, where he conducts choir and orchestra, and as the Assistant Director of The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. In 2024, he began work with the Baldwin Wallace University & Conservatory as Adjunct Faculty and Director of the Baldwin Wallace University Men’s Chorus. He further engages with the professional music community as the World Music and Cultures Repertoire & Resource Chair for the Ohio Choral Directors Association.

Prior to moving to Cleveland, Mr. Steve was the Assistant Director of Vocal Music & Theater Arts at Roosevelt High School (Des Moines, IA), conducting five co-curricular choirs, while assistant directing and music directing all theatrical productions. During this time, he prepared the award-winning Roosevelt Choirs for performances alongside a list of collaborators, including the Des Moines Symphony, TAKE 6, and the New England Symphonic Ensemble at Carnegie Hall. From 2019-2022, he led the Des Moines Diversity Chorus as Artistic Director, and was a baritone, board member, and guest conductor for the Des Moines Choral Society, conducted by Dr. James Rodde.

Mr. Steve regularly serves as a guest conductor and clinician for choral and instrumental ensembles, and as a presenter at conferences across the United States. He has held membership in several ensembles including The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, The Blossom Festival Chorus, The St. Olaf Choir, and the American Boychoir. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN), and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Simpson College (Indianola, IA).

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Devon Steve

Zach Crowder is the Assistant Director of Bands at Greenfield Central High School in Greenfield, IN. As a former children, youth and adult conferee at the Conference for Church Musicians he comes back as a band director whose groups have received consistent gold rating, numerous Indiana State School Music Association All-Music Awards, multiple marching band state finals appearances, and many "With Distinction" awards for Jazz and Concert Bands. Along with teaching,

Zach has enjoyed playing keyboard and sax for Praise and Worship groups across the state and has been an active member with FABM for many years.

He and his wife, Jessica have a son, Parker and twin daughters, Avery and Raegan.

INSTRUMENTAL

Zach Crowder

Zach Crowder is the Assistant Director of Bands at Greenfield Central High School in Greenfield, IN. As a former children, youth and adult conferee at the Conference for Church Musicians he comes back as a band director whose groups have received consistent gold rating, numerous Indiana State School Music Association All-Music Awards, multiple marching band state finals appearances, and many "With Distinction" awards for Jazz and Concert Bands.

Along with teaching, Zach has enjoyed playing keyboard and sax for Praise and Worship groups across the state and has been an active member with FABM for many years.

He and his wife, Jessica have a son, Parker and twin daughters, Avery and Raegan.

Jane Holstein grew up in the Great Lake state of Michigan but has spent her adult life residing in Wheaton, Illinois with her husband, David L. Weck. Upon graduating from Olivet Nazarene University she continued her music studies at the University of Kansas and went on to receive a Doctor of Music from Northwestern University in organ performance. She is active in church music as Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest where she oversees the vocal choirs, handbell choir, and brass ensemble.

One of her greatest joys is leading worship from the organ bench as the congregation sings the great hymns of the church. Jane recently retired from her position as music editor at Hope Publishing Company where she served for twenty-five years. During that tenure she edited several hymnal publications, multiple keyboard collections, countless choral publications, and many other church-related products. She stays busy as organist, pianist, worship planner, and concert artist.

PIANO/ORGAN

Jane Holstein

Jane Holstein grew up in the Great Lake state of Michigan but has spent her adult life residing in Wheaton, Illinois with her husband, David L. Weck. Upon graduating from Olivet Nazarene University she continued her music studies at the University of Kansas and went on to receive a Doctor of Music from Northwestern University in organ performance. She is active in church music as Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest where she oversees the vocal choirs, handbell choir, and brass ensemble.

One of her greatest joys is leading worship from the organ bench as the congregation sings the great hymns of the church. Jane recently retired from her position as music editor at Hope Publishing Company where she served for twenty-five years. During that tenure she edited several hymnal publications, multiple keyboard collections, countless choral publications, and many other church-related products. She stays busy as organist, pianist, worship planner, and concert artist.

Jennifer Sanborn has served American Baptist churches locally, regionally, and nationally, and is currently serving as Director of Development for The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. She brings to this work 25+ years in higher education and religious leadership as well as a personal passion for how we connect our faith and our finances to together create a world where everyone has enough. She is a former board member and forever enthusiast of the non-profit Music that Makes Community with a mission to practice communal song-sharing that inspires deep spiritual connection, brave shared leadership, and sparks the possibility of transformation in our world. This will be her first experience with FABM and only her second visit to the sacred grounds of Green Lake, and she looks forward to learning and leading with this community!

In all her professional and personal commitments Jennifer seeks to encourage people and connect them to inner and outer resources. Her primary call is to live in love with her family, sing praise and lament to God, and discover the sacred in everyday life.

WORSHIP

Jennifer Sanborn