Welcome Richard Popp
Alpine is pleased to welcome Richard Popp as our Director of Music. Richard’s official first day was July 1st, although he has served as a substitute music leader (and been very well-received) during our search process. He brings many gifts to Alpine and we are ready to move into our new program year under his musical leadership.
Richard has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and worked for some years as an archivist. In 2005 he and his wife, Wendy, purchased a Carnegie Library building in Chillicothe, Illinois, near Peoria, where they ran a used bookstore.
Richard studied piano from age 6 through high school. He had one semester of organ lessons in college. He filled in at various churches through the years, and then in 2007 was hired to play organ and piano at Grace and Peace Lutheran Church in Peoria. He directed the adult choir and hand chime choir there starting in 2014. In 2022 he moved to Rockford, and served as pianist and music coordinator at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church for 2 years. He currently accompanies the Bards of the Willows Choir at Wesley Willows, which has concerts for residents each Christmas and Easter, and also accompanies A Classic Chorale, which gives concerts at retirement centers and other locations throughout the Rockford area during the fall and spring.
Richard’s wife, Wendy, is the Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Rockford, and also serves as part-time Chaplain at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center.