The Lankford Arts Series

The Lankford Arts Series: The Art of Faith was founded in 2017, thanks to an endowment bequest made by David and Susan Lankford to First Lutheran Church. David and Susan were dedicated stewards of the music program at First Lutheran, singing in the choir and giving of their time and talent to the congregation they loved.

Each year, First Lutheran Church hosts events for the Sioux Falls community which seek to connect great art and faith. We hope to inspire coming generations through the music David and Susan loved and to enrich and enliven the community with the faith they shared.

Sing Glory to the Name of God: A Festival of Hymns

Sunday, April 14, 2024 • 3 p.m.

Sing Glory to the Name of God: A Hymn Festival with Tom Trenney, organist; and Plymouth Choir from First-Plymouth Church of Lincoln, Nebraska

Come and sing! Join the Plymouth Choir and organist Tom Trenney from First-Plymouth Church of Lincoln, Nebraska, for an afternoon of worship and singing, offering praise to our Risen Lord, who is known by many names. We will sing together to the One who is everywhere and always—at once our Creator, Good Shepherd, and Prince of Peace; the Solid Rock, the Bread of Life, and The Word.  Come to raise your voice in inspired renditions of beloved hymns, including:

• “How Firm a Foundation”

• “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”

• "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”

…and many more! Supported by a choir of 50 voices and organist Tom Trenney, join in singing hymns of faith to God as we celebrate Christ’s victory for all people.

The Plymouth Choir from First-Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska

The Plymouth Choir sings for worship at First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska—a diverse and inclusive community of faith called to increase the love of God and neighbor.  The choir’s musical offerings on YouTube have inspired more than 15,000,000 views and 25,000 subscribers around the world. The Plymouth Choir was invited to perform at the 2016 North Central American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) convention and the only church choir selected as a finalist in the 2018-19 American Prize in Choral Performance. Recent performances have taken the choir from McCook to Sioux City, Nebraska; from Lincoln's Lied Center to Washington's Kennedy Center and New York City's Carnegie Hall; and from Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach to the Nebraska State Penitentiary. 

Tom Trenney

Composer, conductor, organist, preacher, and teacher Tom Trenney has been blessed to serve as Minister of Music to First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 2009.  In 2019, he became Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choirs at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Tom’s choirs have been honored to perform for state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and they have been award winners in the American Prize for choral ensembles. He serves as Music in Worship Chair for Midwest ACDA.

Tom has been a featured performer at churches, colleges, and concert halls across the country including Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, Philadelphia’s Kauffman Center, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. His choral compositions are published by Augsburg Fortress, Beckenhorst Press, Choristers Guild, E.C. Schirmer/Galaxy, Morningstar, Musicspoke, Pavane, and G. Schirmer.  

A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music, Tom is grateful for the inspiration of his teachers and mentors—especially Anton Armstrong, David Davidson, Craig Hella Johnson, (Mister) Fred Rogers, William Weinert, Anne Wilson, and Todd Wilson.

watch previous events