She left the ELCA National Youth Gathering in Houston headed for the campus of Valparaiso University in Indiana and another four weeks away from home. Carolina Bowen, rising 11th grader and member of College Lutheran in Salem, returned to Valparaiso University for her second year at Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) camp. Founded in 1981, LMS is a residential training and performance program. Each summer, LSM brings together band, orchestra, choir, composition, organ, and piano students in a supportive, intentional community on a college campus.While at LSM, Carolina participates in large and small ensembles, private instruction with professional musicians and college faculty, a musicianship class, a musical theater elective, as well as daily prayer and weekly worship. The camp welcomes rising 9th through 12th-grade musicians nationwide. Being Lutheran is not required. There is both a two week and four-week camp option. Carolina sings in her high school choir and plays the viola in the Roanoke Youth Orchestra. Bowen found out about the program because both her mother and aunt attended LSM as teenagers. Various Lutheran colleges and universities have hosted the camp over the years including Augustana College in Illinois, Augustana College South Dakota, Luther College in Iowa, and Wittenberg University in Ohio. Financial and merit-based scholarships are available.
The Lutheran Summer Music Facebook page provides opportunities to see concerts and camp worship live streamed straight from Indiana. This summer’s camp runs from July 1- 29. LSM is another way the ELCA and other Lutheran colleges work together to form the faith of our youth and help them develop their God-given talents.
