With the support of grants from the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota, the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation, and Concordia University – St. Paul, David Mennicke was able to travel to the World Symposium on Choral Music in Seoul, South Korea in August 2014. He then taught in residence at Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, Palestine in September and October 2014 during his sabbatical from Concordia University, where he is music department chair and Director of Choral Studies. While in the Middle East, he also led choral clinics for choirs in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. He wrapped up his sabbatical in November and December 2014 by guest conducting Singers in Accord, a Twin Cities choral group, and singing in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Chorus and Minnesota Chorale performances of Messiah and Amahl and the Night Visitors, respectively. St. Olaf classmate and Concordia St. Paul colleague Monica Murray ’83 is filling in for David as the music department chair during his fall sabbatical.