Welcome
2011 DATES: TBA
See directions to hotel on Accomodations page.
See updated information on the ministry on News page!
See 2009 Pics in the Photo Gallery!
See what we did in 2009 (Schedule)!
In 2003 a small group of American musicians travelled to the Austrian Alps to bridge cultural and spiritual gaps through the Arts in the Alps. A brass quintet, two composers, 3 pianists, a children's music teacher, a college professor, a church youth group, and several vacationers came to Telfes, a small village near Innsbruck for 2 weeks of music performances, music instruction, hotel repairs, and sight-seeing.
In 2007, the Westminster Chorale from Suffolk, Virginia (under the direction of Mark Chambers) and Bettyann Henderson spent a week in the Stubaital performing, teaching music and building relationships. Bible Studies, taught by Rodrigo de Sousa, worked through the creation, fall and redemption of scripture's teaching.
In 2009, we had once again, a unique experience working alongside our Austrian friends. Our bridging of cultural divides was extended to the Fulpmes Hauptschule (middle school) where we taught classes in music, religion and geography in addition to a very well received concert. AIA enjoyed adding jazz to our repertoire as a jazz combo was featured in each concert in addition to the Westminster Chorale. Adding a touch of Africa with the performance of a popular Malawian chorus called, "Palibe Ofana ndi Yesu"at the Saturday concert in the Fulpmes Catholic Church was clearly a unique experience for both choirs and audience as they rose to do a bit of dancing and clapping! Sam McDonald, Professor of Theology at African Bible College, challenged our thinking about missions in bible studies during the week.
We understand our goal for Arts in the Alps as clearly summarized by Timothy Keller in his book "The Reason for God": "The story of the Gospel makes sense of our indelible religiousness, so Christians do evangelism, pointing the way to forgiveness and reconciliation with God through Jesus. The gospel makes sense of our profoundly relational character, so Christians work sacrificially to strengthen human communities around them as well as the Christian community, the church. The gospel story also makes sense of our delight in the presence of beauty, so Christians become stewards of the material world, from those who cultivate the natural creation through science and gardening to those who give themselves to artistic endeavors, all knowing why these things are necessary for human flourishing."
The Tyrolean region has captured all of our hearts and friendships that will last a lifetime have been developed. Arts in the Alps is now not only a formal music outreach, but a part of each participant's lives.
These pages are a look back and a look forward...in recognition of the work of God in giving us, as His people, the extraordinary gifts of music and creativity and the opportunity to share it with others who share in being created in His image.