Community Hymn Fest in Clintonville

Guest organist to perform July 21

Dr. Steven Hoffman will be featured at a Community Hymn Fes, at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at St. Martin Lutheran Church in Cllintonville

The Hymn Fest will be a special part of the 150th Anniversary at St. Martin Church observation.

Hoffman will play favorite hymns and guests will sing along. Special original compositions will also be played.

Raised in New London, Hoffman is the son of Arlyn and Joyce Hoffman, both confirmed at St. Martin Lutheran Church and School. He studied piano from the third grade and organ from the seventh grade while attending Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School in New London.

Currently, Hoffman is Kantor at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming, serving as organist, directing the choirs and instrumental ensembles, and composing music extensively for the Divine Service.

He teaches Choral Music at Trinity Lutheran School in Cheyenne, and is Kantor at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Laramie.

Hoffman serves the Wyoming District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod composing and directing choral and instrumental music (as well as transporting an organ) for district conferences, conventions, retreats, and camps. For more than 20 years, Hoffman taught organ and counterpoint in the University of Wyoming, Department of Music.

Hoffman has traveled across North America and Europe presenting organ Festival programs of hymn improvisations. In 2017, the Lutheran Church celebrated the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his Ninety-Five Theses on the Castle Church door at Wittenberg, Germany, thus starting the Reformation on Oct. 31, 1517. As part of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Hoffman was invited and presented recitals of improvisation upon the hymns of Martin Luther at the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on Oct. 31, 2017.

He holds degrees in organ performance and choral music from the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, master of music in organ performance from the University of South Dakota and the doctor of music organ and sacred music from the University of Michigan.

All are invited to a reception for Hoffman in the Fellowship Hall following the music.

St. Martin Lutheran Church is located at 100 S. Clinton Ave., in Clintonville.