2025 Alumni Gathering
July 18-20, Valparaiso University
Return to LSM to celebrate and share in an exciting multi-day alumni gathering full of opportunities to reconnect to your transformational LSM experiences. Join us for a weekend of concerts, worship, singing in the alumni choir, and sharing meals and receptions with LSM faculty, leadership, current students, and fellow alumni. Connect with old friends, make new ones, and surround yourself with music, faith, fun, and fellowship.
2025 Alumni Gathering Itinerary
Share your favorite memories from LSM, create new ones, and support the next generation of students by joining any of the following opportunities during the summer gathering:
Alumni Choir (offering music at Evening Prayer and Festival Worship)
Alumni Welcome Dinner
Alumni Reception
Worship Assistant Opportunities
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer
Student Recitals
Festival Week Concerts (Musical Theatre, Jazz Ensemble, Band, Choir, and Orchestra)
Festival Worship
Dr. Andrew Last
2025 Alumni Choir Director
Join your peers and sing with Dr. Andrew Last (LSM 1991, Festival Choir Director 2014-2016), the Weston Noble Endowed Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Luther College, where he conducts the Nordic Choir and serves as Artistic Director for Christmas at Luther. A respected conductor and educator, Last has led ensembles featured at regional and national ACDA conventions, made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2019, and frequently conducts All-State choirs nationwide. He holds degrees from Luther College, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Registration
Registration is open to alumni, family, and friends of LSM. Registration includes 3 meals: Friday Alumni Welcome Dinner, Saturday lunch, and Saturday Board of Directors Reception, post-concert receptions, participation in all activities, LSM T-shirt, and unlimited coffee and refreshments. Registration fees:
By May 15: $60
By June 26: $85
By July 19: $110
LSM concerts are free and open to the public and do not require registration. For guests wanting to join alumni gathering activities, meals, and receptions, please register each guest individually. Lodging is arranged separately, see below for more details.
Alumni Gathering 2024
Lodging
Please note that lodging arrangements need to be made separately from the general registration for the alumni gathering.
On-Campus
Housing is available on campus in Beacon Hall. Beacon Hall offers suite-style arrangements with private rooms and shared en-suite bathrooms. Furniture includes beds, wardrobes, desks with chairs, bookshelves and dressers. Linens are included, as well as a full breakfast each day. Reserve before June 25, 2025.
Friday to Sunday: $160
Thursday to Sunday: $240
Beacon Hall
Hotels
LSM has reserved a blocks of rooms at five local hotels for Festival Week (July 16-20, 2024). Rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis, and are managed directly by the hotel. Reserve online or by calling the hotel.
There are also numerous other hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other accommodations in Valparaiso and neighboring towns. Reserve at your leisure.
Fairfield Inn & Suites
.1 miles from campus
2101 E Morthland Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 465-6225
Reserve before June 16, 2025
Country Inn & Suites
.1 miles from campus
2020 Laporte Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 476-0000
Reserve before July 1, 2025
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
1 mile from campus
1251 S Silhavy Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46383
(888) 465 4329
Reserve Online, Group Code: EG2
Reserve before June 25, 2025
Hampton Inn & Suites
1 mile from campus
1451 South Silhavy Road, Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 531-6424
Reserve Online, Group Code: LUT
Reserve before July 16, 2025
Best Western
1.5 miles from campus
760 W Morthland Dr, Valparaiso, IN 46383
(219) 850-1100
Reserve Online, Group Master: 1590
Reserve before July 16, 2025
Rev. Michael D. Costello
2024 Alumni Award Recipient
The 2024 LSM Alumni Award was presented to Rev. Michael D. Costello during LSM 2024 at the annual Board of Directors Reception on Saturday, July 27, 2024. With over 100 guests in attendance, the event was an inspiring reminder that LSM touches the lives of countless people. Alumni, staff and faculty, family and friends, supporters, and more gathered to mark another joyful and transformative summer of LSM.
Rev. Costello spent nine summers with LSM—first as a student from 1993 to 1996, as an intern in 1998 and 2000, and then as Chaplain in 2010, 2015, and 2017. Upon receiving the award, Rev. Costello shared these remarks with the audience.
The LSM Annual Alumni Award recognizes an alum who has made significant contributions to their community, church, or society at large, and whose accomplishments, affiliations, vocations, or careers have positively shaped our world and reflect the spirit of LSM.
Do you know an LSM alum who is deserving of recognition? Nominate them by April 30, 2025.
Left to right: Rev. Michael D. Costello, Dietrich Jessen, Thomas Bandar
Jonathan Bartz
2025 Alumni Commission Composer
LSM is thrilled to announce that Jonathan Bartz (LSM 2002–2003) has been commissioned for this year’s Alumni Composition Commission. A composer, orchestrator, and arranger for film, television, and live performance, Bartz has worked on films such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Frozen II, and Nope. His new work for strings will be premiered this summer by the Omega String Faculty.
The commission project is a part of LSM's ongoing initiatives to support its alumni and promote their work. Following the premiere, the new work will be available for free download from The LSM Press.
Jonathan Bartz (LSM 2002-2003)