Few might know it, but next week dozens of church musicians from around the country will be coming together in Ventura County for their annual convention.

Described as a "best-kept secret," the National Association of Church Musicians is meeting for its annual convention at Camarillo United Methodist Church. The three-day event will commence Thursday.

"Sometimes these other national conventions seem to dominate," said Ruth Elin Drossel, who is the association's board secretary and a Simi Valley resident. "On the flip side of it, because it is so small, you get really good networking with other members. You're kind of not lost in the shuffle."

Attendance averages 100 to 120 people, event chairwoman Sherry Klahs said; membership in the national organization is about 350.

Musician and acclaimed conductor David Morales headlines this year's conference.

Morales is the founder and artistic director of Cantare Con Vivo, a nonprofit choral organization created in 1987 and based in Oakland. He works in many facets, conducting the 100-voice Cantare Chorale and the 24-voice Cantare Chamber Ensemble and managing the group's Music Education and Outreach program, which helps teach choral music to 500 kids in Oakland's inner city.

"He brings this dynamic leadership and demand to his work and a clear understanding that the music is more important than the venue in which it takes place," said Cort Bender, association president.

Mixed in with the conference will be a free concert for the public starting at 7:15 p.m. Friday at the church.

The concert participants will include the Camarillo UMC Chancel Choir and the Alchemy Bell Choir from Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills.

Each group is expected to perform about 25 minutes.

The convention itself will begin Thursday with a welcome speech from Bender. Exhibits will showcase predominantly local vendors and music publishers from Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as one national vendor, J.W. Pepper.

Attendees will have a variety of sessions to choose from each day.

On Thursday, there will be workshops on conducting, children's choir, evolving music industries and publishing. Friday will offer more choices, with Morales conducting a master class and workshops on the secrets of working with instrumentalists, understanding the human voice and other topics.

Morales is teaching convention attendees six pieces that will be performed during the closing worship service, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on July 21, which will be open to the public.

After last year's convention in Long Beach, Drossel, who is close friends of Jim Decker-Mahin and his wife Lynn Decker-Mahin at the Camarillo church, suggested Camarillo and the board agreed. The Decker-Mahins are senior pastor and director of music ministries, respectively.

The association, which has had conventions in Northern California and San Diego, among other places, has been away from Ventura County for years, Drossel said.

Bender is completing the final year of his two-year term before he's succeeded by David Feit-Pretzer at the convention. Pretzer is the director of music at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in Long Beach. New board members also will be selected at the convention.

Originally known as the Choral Conductors' Guild, the group is in its fifth year as the National Association of Church Musicians. The name change, sparked by a desire to remain relevant, fits the evolving role of the church musician.

Bender helped oversee the change, with emphasis on making the organization more efficient while also working toward including younger leadership. Bands are having a larger presence in churches, and Bender says the organization should be inclusive of all varieties of music.

The organization will celebrate its 70th anniversary in summer 2008. It is one of the longest-running interdenominational groups in the United States serving church musicians, Bender said.

The conference will include presentation of the third annual Fred Bock Award. Albert McNeil, who created the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, will receive the honor, which recognizes those who have made contributions to the sacred music field. McNeil will receive the award Friday and will leave the next day for a musical tour in Spain.

The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers is a nationally known group that began its first European tour 36 years ago and has since completed 18 sold-out European tours and 12 tours of the United States and Canada, as well as tours of the Middle and Far East, and Africa and South America.

More information on the convention can be obtained by visiting the association's Web site at http://www.nacmhq.org or by calling Klahs at 661-255-1301 or Bender at 650-281-4938.