Canticle Distributing Information

MorningStar Music Publishers is based in the greater St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area and specializes in publishing music for churches and schools. MorningStar maintains an extensive network of music dealers throughout the United States, Canada, and in many countries around the world. MorningStar began in late 1986 as the dream of Rodney Schrank and Ruth Lewis. Both Rod and Ruth had worked in the music department at Concordia Publishing House for a number of years, which gave them the publishing expertise needed to establish a new company. From the beginning, MorningStar has functioned as a non-denominational publishing house focusing on music used in churches whose worship focuses mainly within the liturgical tradition. The first publication list included composers such as Paul Manz, Charles Callahan, Hal Hopson, and K. Lee Scott. Later, composers such as Michael Burkhardt, Robert Hobby, David Cherwien, and John Ferguson were added to create an extensive catalog of music that has been well received over the years. The composer list has grown significantly, and new composers are added each year. Mark Lawson became president of MorningStar when he purchased the company in 1997. MorningStar's publication goals have remained constant over these years, and the company has expanded into the publication of books, and has added new series with The National Lutheran Choir, The Washington National Cathedral, Luther College, and Lenoir-Rhyne College.