Since 1986, local choir singers, directors, and accompanists have gathered at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center to celebrate God's gift of music and worship together. From the time of its inception through the present, the focus of Choir Music Weekend (CMW) at Lake Junaluska has been on encouraging the small to medium sized choir.

During the first several years of Choir Music Weekend, around 30 people participated, led by a staff of no more than 4 persons. In 2010, led by 10 gifted and creative United Methodist musicians, over 400 persons gathered for CMW.

Coming from across the Southeast Jurisdiction, choir members and directors gather to sing together, worship together, attend workshops and rehearsals, share food and fellowship, and enjoy the incredible beauty of the fall foliage at Lake Junaluska and the Smoky Mountains.

At the final worship service on Sunday morning, the eight anthems learned during the mass rehearsals are sung together illustrating the theme of the weekend. These anthems then travel home with the choirs, providing eight ready-to-sing alternatives to their grateful directors. At the modest registration price, directors are encouraged to bring their entire choirs.


CMW is co-sponsored by Lake Junaluska Ministry and Abingdon Press - Abingdon is a division of The United Methodist Publishing House based in Nashville, Tennessee. The CMW leadership team is headed by Roger Dowdy, Director of Ministry and Event Development at Lake Junaluska, and Gary Alan Smith, Senior Music Editor at Abingdon Press.