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Hilary Seraph Donaldson is a writer, choral conductor, and congregational song enlivener based in Toronto, Canada. Hilary's practice blends a passion for global song, community music-making, and the drama of worship with academic study and a love for scripture. A graduate of the Sacred Music programme at Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University, Dallas), she is motivated by a belief in the transformative power of congregational song to strengthen relationships, deepen prayer, and nurture community. She currently serves as a minister of music at Eastminster United Church in Toronto's lively and diverse Danforth Ave. neighbourhood, and is an active member of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Hilary's website and blog, Transforming Every Guest, is a forum for her to explore ideas of congregational song and the life of the church.
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On August 19-20, we gathered for a two-day Composers' Retreat with the talented and generous Ike Sturm, Ana Hernandez, Ben Allaway, Paul Vasile, Marilyn Haskel, Rick Fabian, Daniel Schwandt, Robert Farlee, Anne Krentz Organ, Roosevelt Credit, Jacob Slichter, Ruth Cunningham. The members of this esteemed group composed a great deal of wonderful music at the event!
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We ask participants in Music That Makes Community workshops to learn a song in advance of the event. That way, they can come prepared to hit the ground running by leading a song in a small group on the first day. Here are five songs we recommend for folks who are new to the practice: Arise, Shine and Come Light of Lights by Ruth Cunningham; Christ is our Guiding Light by Eric Law; Open My Heart by Ana Hernandez; and Gloria a Dios, a traditional Alleluia from Peru. Below you'll find video and audio files of the songs being taught, as well as the written music for each tune.