University of Florida
Sacred Music Workshop
Inspiring Worship
Join us on
May 3-5, 2026
on the campus of the
UNIVERSITY of FLORIDA
with this year's featured presenter,
Dr. John Behnke
Minister of Traditional Music
Lakeside Lutheran Church
Venice, Florida
Dr. John A. Behnke is the Minister of Traditional Music at Lakeside Lutheran Church, Venice, FL. He has played organ concerts and hymn festivals throughout the USA, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Taiwan, and Japan. He enjoys composing and arranging music having over 600 compositions for organ, choir, and handbells in print with nineteen different publishers in the United States, Germany, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He is Professor of Music emeritus at Concordia University, in Mequon, Wisconsin where for 29 years (1986-2015) he taught organ, church music courses, and directed The Alleluia Ringers, Concordia’s touring handbell choir. He was the director of the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble and Music Editor of AGEHR Publishing – Handbell Musicians of America from 2003 until 2019. He was recently awarded the title of Honorary Life Member of the Handbell Musicians of America. More information can be found at www.johnbehnke.com.
Led by Professor of Music Dr. Laura Ellis, the University of Florida Sacred Music Workshop has inspired worship for 18 years by bringing internationally-known presenters to the sunshine state. The sessions vary year-to-year based on the strengths of our featured presenter, and the small size of our workshop allows each attendee to form a relationship with our presenter, professors, and students in UF's organ, carillon, and sacred music departments. Join us!
2026 Schedule Highlights
Opening Night Concert by Hoggtowne Bronze, Arranging/composing for the church,
Hymn playing and choosing preludes, voluntaries, and postludes, Devotional,
Choral Reading Session, Organ Masterclass
Sunday
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Events
6:00 PM SMW Potluck with members of the Gainesville
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
7:00 PM Hoggtowne Bronze in concert
Monday
Events
8:30AM Coffee & Refreshments
9:00AM Workshop I
10:30AM Workshop II
12:00PM Group Photo
12:00PM Lunch (delivered or on your own)
12:30PM Carillon Recital
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1:30PM Devotional
2:00PM Workshop III
2:45PM Choral Reading Session
3:30PM Workshop IV
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7:00PM John Behnke leads a reading session of his
organ and choral music
Tuesday
Events
8:30AM Coffee & Refreshments
9:00AM Workshop V
10:30AM Workshop VI ​
12:00PM Lunch (delivered or on your own)
12:30PM Carillon Recital
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1:00PM Optional Organ Masterclass with Laura Ellis
Other Friendly Faces
Laura Ellis
John-Peter Ford
J.D. Cain
Ryan Stone
Please send more info:
At The University of Florida, we are a people of purpose. We're committed to challenging convention and ourselves. We see things not as they are, but as they could be. And we strive for a greater impact: one measured in people helped and lives improved.
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The campus is home to over 60,000 students and nearly 5,000 faculty members. The School of Music offers Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral Degrees. Dr. Laura Ellis, Professor of Organ, Carillon, and Harpsichord, also teaches classes in Sacred Music and acts as University Organist.
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Gainesville, Florida, a "Tree City U.S.A." for over 30-years, is a city built around the University. Local State Parks, Springs, outdoor activities, and locally-owned eateries make Gainesville a unique destination in world capital of tourism.
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