Founded in Dallas, Texas, the Lutheran Hymn Festival began in the early 1990’s with the idea to promote Lutheran hymnody and to celebrate together with other Lutheran churches in the area.
The first Lutheran Hymn Festival was held in 1993 and featured guest organist, Martin Jean. Keeping with tradition, the Lutheran Hymn Festival continued to host festivals every few years thereafter. Most recently, featured organists have included Jeffrey Blersch (2010), Steven Wente (2013), David Cherwien (2016), and Kevin Hildebrand (2022). The 2022 festival marked the eleventh Lutheran Hymn Festival since its inception.
The Lutheran Hymn Festival is held in the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The organ’s 4,535 pipes range from the size of a pencil to 32 feet in length, making it one of the largest mechanical action organs ever built for a symphony hall. Both its sight and sound truly are remarkable.
The Festival Children’s Choir is comprised from various Lutheran churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Invitations are traditionally sent to all ELCA and LCMS churches and schools in the metroplex and surrounding areas. The Festival Adult Choir represents an SATB ensemble comprised of singers drawn from the many Lutheran congregations in the four-county North Texas region.
Tickets are now available for the next Lutheran Hymn Festival! The festival date is Sunday, October 19th, 4:30 PM at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas.
Guest organist for the 2025 hymn festival is Dr. David Cherwien. Returning patrons of the Lutheran Hymn Festival will recognize Dr. Cherwien as having previously played at the 2016 hymn festival featuring hymnody of the Reformation. We know that you will enjoy his music once again as we celebrate this year’s festival on the theme of “The Holy Trinity – Yesterday, Today, Forever”!