Lutheran Summer Music (LSM), the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school students, is excited to announce that the 2026 summer program will return to St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, for the first time since 1994. This move marks a significant new chapter for LSM, returning the program to the site of its inaugural season in 1982.

The move coincides with the 2026 conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM), a key partner organization. Together, LSM and ALCM create a dynamic summer hub for intergenerational learning, performance, and renewal in classical and sacred music.

St. Olaf College offers world-class music facilities that will support and expand LSM’s growing programs, including large ensemble spaces, a recital hall for the full community and guests, the magnificent Boe Chapel, ample organ studios and individual practice rooms—an ideal home for LSM’s robust offerings.

"Welcoming back Lutheran Summer Music to campus illustrates both organizations’ commitment to musical excellence and inspiring the next generation of classical musicians," said St. Olaf College President Susan Rundell Singer. "We are thankful for the opportunity to host a premier faith-based music academy that encourages participants to examine their faith, values, and vocation through music.”

LSM Executive & Artistic Director Thomas Bandar reflected on the significance of the move: “Returning to St. Olaf after more than 30 years is both a homecoming and a leap forward. This move strengthens our commitment to musical excellence, to our independent Lutheran identity, and to cultivating the next generation of classical and sacred musicians. The beautiful St. Olaf campus provides a picturesque landscape for LSM’s dedication to a nurturing community.”

LSM will continue to draw worship faculty from both the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, underscoring its commitment to broad Lutheran representation. All worship experiences will remain thoughtfully planned and led by LSM.

The Twin Cities region, home to a vibrant Lutheran heritage and a rich musical landscape, has long been a vital part of LSM’s story. LSM draws students, fellows, and faculty from across the country, and this move will help strengthen its deep ties to both the Twin Cities region and the national Lutheran music community.

LSM extends its sincere gratitude to Valparaiso University, which has hosted the program since 2017. LSM 2025 completes a highly successful eight-year residency at Valpo. This period has seen tremendous growth for the program, including a doubling of student enrollment, expanded artistic offerings, and memorable community events, including presenting J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion in 2024. Valpo will remain an important institutional partner, sharing faculty and supporting joint admissions and outreach initiatives in the years ahead.

Since its founding in 1981, Lutheran Summer Music has guided the lives of thousands of young musicians, many of whom credit LSM as the starting place for their future careers and vocations. LSM was founded as an itinerant program, with the program being hosted on 9 different campuses since inception, including Augsburg University, Augustana College-Rock Island, Augustana University-Sioux Falls, Concordia College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Luther College, Valparaiso University, St. Olaf College, and Wittenberg University.

LSM Relocates to St. Olaf College in 2026

Alumni Composition Premiered by Omega Strings at LSM 2025