Name: Grime, Paul J.
Biography: Paul J. Grime was born to Arden and Mary Grime in December 29, 1958, and spent all of his formative years in Archbold, a small town in northwest Ohio. He attended Valparaiso University, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance and church music. The following year he completed a Master of Music in organ performance at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. His organ instructors were William Eifrig (Valparaiso) and David Mulburry (Cincinnati). In 1982, he matriculated to Concordia Theological Seminary where he completed the MDiv degree in 1986. He stayed on for one additional year, serving as acting Kantor at Kramer Chapel, graduating with an STM in 1987.
Following studies at CTS, Dr. Grime moved to Milwaukee where he began his doctoral studies at Marquette University. Concurrently, he received a call from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in West Allis, Wisconsin, where he served from 1987 to 1996. He was awarded a PhD in Religious Studies in 1994, writing his dissertation on the topic “The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Hymns of Martin Luther.” His doctoral advisor was Kenneth Hagen.
In 1996, Dr. Grime accepted a call to serve as Executive Director for the LCMS Commission on Worship in St. Louis. During his eleven years in that capacity, he served as project director, first for the development of Hymnal Supplement 98 and then for Lutheran Service Book, the synod’s new hymnal, and all of its companion volumes, which were published in 2006 and 2007.
Dr. Grime joined the CTS faculty in the fall of 2007. He serves as Dean of the Chapel and teaches in the Pastoral Ministry and Missions department. He is married to Debra; they have two sons, Matthew and Nathan, who love sports of every kind.
Name: Hildebrand, Kevin J.
Biography: Kevin Hildebrand is Associate Kantor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. His teaching at the seminary includes courses in vocal development, music fundamentals, and music for worship, as well as choir and organ responsibilities for daily chapel and other services. His service to the Church also includes teaching the annual organist workshops at the seminary, and assisting with the seminary’s Good Shepherd Institute, a resource for pastoral theology and sacred music. Hildebrand has also founded and directs the Seminary Children’s Choir, composed of children from the seminary community. He also directs the Youth Choir at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Ft. Wayne.
Hildebrand is a graduate of Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, and also holds master’s degrees in music and theology The University of Michigan and Concordia Theological Seminary, respectively. He has studied organ with Steven Wente and Marilyn Mason, and composition with Richard Hillert, Robert Lind, and James Aikman.
Kantor Hildebrand is an active composer and has numerous compositions for organ and choir published with Concordia Publishing House and MorningStar Music Publishers. His hymn tune LORD OF LIFE (used with the text, “O Christ, Who Shared Our Mortal Life”) as well as other hymn harmonizations are represented in Lutheran Service Book (2006). He has also been a workshop leader and instructor for the LCMS Commission on Worship, as well as frequent organ recitalist and hymn festival presenter across the United States and Canada. He is a member of the Indiana District Board for Worship and Spiritual Care.
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