Larry Dittberner, Songleader-Songwriter
Larry is a Vietnam Veteran, drafted in 1965.
A songleader and songwriter based in St Paul. Larry grew up in a musical family where singing was what brought joy to their lives. Singing and songleading are his passion!
I’m looking to lead ordinary people to sing together in progressive churches, at social change events, small and big, conferences and concerts. “Let’s get singing, raising our voices in unity. Contact me if you’d like to work together.”
Larry co-directs with Bret Hesla, the Side By Side Chorus, composed of folks with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their allies. The chorus is sponsored by Advocating Change Together (ACT), an agency, whose mission is to foster leadership, civil rights and self-advocacy for people with these disabilities. He has worked with ACT since 1998 using songleading and collective songwriting to further these aims.
A songleader and composer at St Frances Cabrini Church in Mpls for fifty years, Larry writes spiritual music and secular songs. In addition, he was a member of a popular Twin Cities music group, Friends And Relatives for 35 years, singing regionally and nationally for social justice and social change events and conferences, using community singing and folk dancing.
And in 1977, Larry helped to found Lake Country Montessori School in Mpls, teaching music to kids 3-14 for 40 years. He instituted community singing as a regular part of the school culture.