Nearly 150 adults and young people gathered Aug. 16-19 for the 13th annual Diocese of East Carolina Conference on Church Music at Trinity Center, the diocesan retreat center in Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.

Conference leader David Flood, organist and choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral, carried the participants through rigorous work on Anglican chant and singing in the style of the English choral tradition. When conference coordinators, the Rev. Joe Cooper and Betsy Overton spoke with Mr. Flood three years ago, they were especially interested in having him teach singers from Eastern North Carolina, who admittedly have Southern accents, how to imitate the very distinct Anglican choral sound. "We had watched him direct at Canterbury; so much is conveyed through his facial expressions. And he has a gentility about him. He's unflappable," Ms. Overton said.

Dent Davidson, of St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, returned to lead the youth conference. About 30 4th-8th-grade students participated and also worked with Mr. Flood.

"David Flood was especially inspiring with his gift for conducting and his knowledge of the Anglican choral tradition," said Catherine Charles of St. Thomas', Ahoskie, one of the leaders of the youth conference. "For many of the participants, this was their first time singing Anglican chant. He was able to quickly take a diverse group of singers and transform them into a polished choir."

Ms. Charles said that Mr. Davidson brought out the best from the young singers.

"He chooses a variety of music from different cultures and traditions that appeals to the kids, and often exposes them to different languages, singing songs in Hebrew and African dialects. And they also have a lot of fun."

Some of the anthems for the adult conference were John Tavener's "Love Bade Me Welcome;" Herbert Howells' "A Hymn for St. Cecilia;" William Walton's "Set Me As A Seal;" C.V. Stanford's "Justorum Amimae;" Robert Parson's "Ave Maria;" and Henry Loosemore's "O Lord Increase Our Faith."

In addition to master classes with Mr. Flood, a broad range of workshops, including Keyboard Improvisation, Music of the Iona Tradition, Music From World Cultures, and Integrating Contemporary Music into an Episcopal Liturgy, showed off the diversity of music in the Episcopal Church.

The Schola Cantorum of the diocese, directed by Samuel Burke, was in residence at Gloucester Cathedral for a week in July. They sang for Sunday Eucharist, daily Evensongs, even a wedding.

"There was a long anthem period, when the bride and groom went to sign the register. And we were dazzled by the hats. After the wedding we all went into the cloister and had Pimm's. It was lovely, very lah-de-dah," Ms. Overton said.

Scott Nunn

Wilmington, N.C.