ISM students present their research at SCSM in Chicago

In February, ISM students Benjamin Ray M.Div. ‘27 and Sindy Yang M.A.R. ‘26 presented papers at the annual meeting of the Society for Christian Scholarship in Music (SCSM) at Trinity Christian College, just outside Chicago. 

Yang’s paper, “Between Suffering and Love: The Aesthetic Duality of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. Matthew Passion,” argued that the tension between suffering and love in Bach’s masterpiece is not a contradiction. Instead, it embodies the Lutheran concept of freedom, allowing listeners to experience the work’s profound theological meaning. Ray’s paper, “Musicking as a Catalyst for Reconciliation,” drew from musicology and theology to show how the musical practices of Taizé can serve as a powerful force for reconciliation in our divided world by fostering attunement, embodiment, and communion. 

Congratulations to both Sindy and Ben on this outstanding achievement! Click here to learn more about their research and the full conference program. The ISM is looking forward to hosting the SCSM at the ISM in 2027—stay tuned for more information in the coming months.