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Richard C. Jeffrey
Richard Charles Jeffrey was raised in LaGrange, Illinois by his parents, Charles and Angela Jeffrey. He was the youngest of three children. His brother, Don, and sister, Lynn, were sixteen years ol...view moreRichard Charles Jeffrey was raised in LaGrange, Illinois by his parents, Charles and Angela Jeffrey. He was the youngest of three children. His brother, Don, and sister, Lynn, were sixteen years older than him. While he was growing up, Richard studied music privately with Mr. William Kiereg who also became his Confirmation Sponsor. He attended Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois. There he played alto and tenor saxophones in the Lyons Township High School band, under the directorship of Mr. Harold Hilgendorf.
At the age of eighteen, Richard attended Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois. He studied music theory with the celebrated Dr. T. Howard Krueger. He also sang in the Elmhurst College Choir and played in the Elmhurst College Concert and Jazz Bands.
In the year 1997, Richard’s first published choral octavo, “Carol Of The Stable,” became the best selling piece for Concordia Publishing House, the publishing arm of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church. At that time he became a close friend of the CPH music department chairman, Rev. David Johnson. Later, his composition, “Peace Came To Earth,” was published by Morning Star Music Publishers. It was sung on the nationally syndicated television show Good Morning America as a prelude to the 2002 Olympic games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The same piece was also included into the Wisconsin Synod Hymnal and recorded by the Christian recording artist Susan Anne.
Over the years, Richard became friends with many renowned hymnists including Timothy Dudley-Smith, Jaroslav Vajda and Thomas Troeger. He corresponded with them frequently and was inspired by them to write hymn texts of his own.
Richard’s music and hymn texts have been published by many companies. They include Concordia Publishing House, Logia Publications, Augsburg Fortress, Gladsong, Morning Star, Alliance Publications, Resource Publications, and Crossroads Music. Richard has also been commissioned to compose many pieces for churches and private concerns. These commissioned pieces include “Family of God” for the fiftieth anniversary of Saint Cletus Church in LaGrange, Illinois and “Christ Is Our Rock” for the one hundredth anniversary of Saint Paul Catholic Church in Plainfield, Wisconsin.
Richard lives in Lemont, Illinois with his wife, Susan, and their two daughters, Jennifer and Jessica. Lemont is known as “The Village of Faith” because of the many churches that have been built within its boundaries. All of the Jeffrey women are accomplished flautists. Richard’s wife, Susan, studied flute with two well known flautists, Hobart Grimes and Joseph Kaines. Because of the musical talent that resides in the Jeffrey household, Richard often incorporates flute parts into his compositions.
Richard Jeffrey has written hymn texts and composed church music for the past twenty five years. He has taught music at the College of Dupage and Downers Grove North High School. Richard is currently the Director of Music at a church in Bolingbrook, Illinois.view less