Confirmed artists currently include:
Max McLean – President of Fellowship for the Performing Arts, narrator for the Listener’s Bible audio line, and speaker on the daily radio program Listen to the Bible, which airs on over 670 radio affiliates worldwide. He is best known for his theatrical presentations of The Screwtape Letters, Mark’s Gospel, and Genesis. Each of these has received critical acclaim in a wide array of publications including the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. His theatrical productions have appeared in several off-Broadway theaters in New York; at the Edinburgh Fringe Theater Festival in Scotland; Pegasus Theater in Chicago; the Dallas Theater Center; and the Stratford Festival Theater, as well as dozens of colleges and performing arts venues across the country. McLean recently adapted The Great Divorce for the stage and the production is currently on tour across the country.
The City of Oxford Orchestra – Founded in 1965, Oxford’s professional orchestra is firmly committed to providing live, classical music of the highest quality to the widest possible audience. The Orchestra has played to acclaim in most of the capital cities of Europe, while also providing year-round concerts in Oxford’s beautiful, historic buildings – in particular, the stunning Sheldonian Theatre.
Ad Deum Dance Company – A professional modern/contemporary dance company based in Houston, Texas. It is directed by its founder Randall Flinn, who established the company in January 2000. Ad Deum has toured across the USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Their work has been featured in Dance Spirit and Dance Magazine. Ad Deum has performed the works of many choreographers including Steve Rooks (former principal dancer with Martha Graham), Caleb Mitchell (former Houston Ballet dancer), Hope Boykin (Alvin Ailey), Stephen Wynne (Talk Dance Company), Bill Wade (Inlet Dance Theatre), Durell Comedy (Limon Dance Company), and Ryan Corriston (former dancer with Doug Varrone), as well as the works of Mr. Flinn and Ad Deum Company members.
David Payne – Actor, director and playwright. Payne is most well-known for his flagship production, An Evening with C.S. Lewis. He has played Lewis in a number of productions of Shadowlands, in his self-penned Weep for Joy, and in numerous presentations of An Evening with C.S. Lewis. His production company, David Payne Drama, is based in the U.S.A. and U.K. and was originally founded to present stage productions based on the life and writings of C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis Summer Institute Choir, with John Dickson, Director – The C.S. Lewis Foundation incorporates a full fledged Choral Institute as an integral component of its Summer Institute offerings. The choir will consist of auditioned choral singers who sincerely desire to participate fully in the wide range of conference programming while also gaining immeasurable experience in choral performance through participation in both concert and worship settings, including The Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, Ely Cathedral, and Great Saint Mary’s, Cambridge.
John Dickson – Director of the 2014 C.S. Lewis Summer Institute Choir. Dickson is currently the Stephanie Landry Barineau Professor of Choral Music and Chair of the Division of Ensembles and Conducting in the School of Music at Louisiana State University. As Director of Choral Studies he conducts the internationally acclaimed A Cappella Choir and supervises the masters and doctoral programs in choral conducting. Internationally known as a conducting pedagogue, Dr. Dickson has presented master-classes before the Association of British Choral Directors and the Russian State Music Conservatories of St. Petersburg and Moscow, served as adjudicator for international choral festivals, and conducted workshops throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Finland, France, and Canada.
Mellstock Band – A group of four musicians who entertain with a unique combination of singing, instrumental music and spoken word, encompassing west gallery harmony, traditional songs, glees, dances, marches, poems and stories. With their authentic instruments and songs they have performed all over England, and taken their music to Europe, Africa and the United States. They have also appeared in productions for film, television, radio and theatre.
Martyn Joseph – A musician with a career spanning over 30 years, 31 albums, and half a million record sales. He has previously been compared to Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews. Martyn was awarded Best Male Artist at the 2004 BBC Welsh Music Awards and in 2012 his song “There’s Always Maybe” won the best folk song category in the World Independent Music Awards. In addition to his music, this year he launched “Let Yourself Trust”, a not-for-profit organization.
More artists will be added as each is fully confirmed. Check back for updates.