2026 Convention: Schedule of Events

DC Monuments at Night Tour
Sunday, July 19: 7:30-10:30 pm 
Start/end location: Catholic University
Cost: $60
Experience Washington, D.C. at its most breathtaking on the NPM Pre-Convention Monuments Night Tour. This 3 hour excursion departs from and returns to Catholic University, offering a relaxing evening ride through the Capitol, National Mall, and White House areas. The tour features stunning views of the Capitol, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial, and more—all illuminated against the night sky. Guests will enjoy three memorable stops: the Lincoln Memorial (with access to the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials), the FDR Memorial (adjacent to the MLK Memorial), and the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial, which is visited only on night tours. A beautiful and inspiring way to begin convention week.

DC Organ Crawl
Monday, July 20: 8:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Start/End location: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Cost: $125
Join your fellow conference attendees in a hands-on tour of some of the finest organs in Washington, D.C. Guided by John Henderson, this full-day journey highlights some of Washington, D.C.’s most remarkable instruments and sacred spaces. Sacred spaces will include the Basilica’s Upper Church, the Cathedral of St. Matthew, St. Paul’s K Street, St. Dominic’s, St. Peter’s on the Hill, and St. Joseph’s on the Hill. Participants will enjoy curated demonstrations at each stop, led by local experts and hosts. The crawl concludes with a return to CUA at 3:00 p.m.—a rich and inspiring start to convention week. The pre-convention event fee includes transportation, lunch, and donations to all visited churches.

Cantor Institute 
Monday, July 20: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: CUA Campus
Cost: $125
Join NPM this summer for our comprehensive one-day workshop for cantors and those who seek to become cantors. Through in-depth lectures and interactive sessions with Dr. Peter Kadeli, participants will explore music as a ministry and some of the best practices for cantors including vocal pedagogy, diction for non-English languages, praying through song, and other topics. Dr. Peter Kadeli serves as Head of Sacred Music and Director of Choral Activities at The Catholic University of America. Dr. Kadeli brings over fifteen years of experience as a professional conductor, liturgical musician, and choral expert. He is the Associate Conductor for two-time Grammy Award-winning The Washington Chorus and was named a 2nd place national winner in the 2025 American Prize in Choral Conducting.

National Catholic Handbell Festival
Monday, July 20: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; concert at 6:00 PM
Location: CUA Campus
Cost: $100
You are invited to join us for the 2026 National Catholic Handbell Festival! Groups of ringers or solo ringers are accepted for this event at the Catholic University of America on July 20, 2026. Our clinician will be Kathy Ebling Shaw, Vice President of Malmark Bells, Inc. The festival will conclude in a concert as part of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) National Convention. This pre-convention fee includes clinicians’ fees, lunch, and snacks provided prior to the concert. 

Franciscan Monastery Tour
Monday, July 20: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
Cost: $25
Embark on a guided tour of this unique pilgrimage site in the heart of Washington, D.C. Serving as a pilgrimage site for those who cannot travel to the Holy Land, the monastery includes 42 acres of century-old gardens, full-sized replicas of shrines from the Holy Land, stunning art and architecture, and a magnificent Lively-Fulcher organ.

Liturgical Composers’ Forum
Monday, July 20: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: CUA Campus
Free, but advance registration is required
The Liturgical Composers Forum (founded 1998) will offer an open “New Music Review” as a pre-Convention event on Monday July 20, 1-3 PM. (Location on CUA’s campus to be determined.) Aspiring liturgical composers are invited to submit ONE well developed, clearly written liturgical piece for consideration. In the session, after singing each work, a panel of experienced published composers will offer constructive critique and creative advice and conversation, intended to help the composer, and all those gathered with the craft of liturgical composition. You MUST register for this event at the convention in order to submit a work. To submit a work, go to liturgicalcomposers.net/npm2026, where you will find submission guidelines (please read!) and an upload link.

Service Project
Monday, July 20: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: CUA Campus 
Cost: $10
Join fellow convention attendees for an afternoon of service. The service project in conjunction with CUA’s Office of Campus Ministry is a wonderful way to begin your convention experience. Please note that the specific opportunity will be communicated to registrants. The $10 fee supports the program.