Pepper Choplin

Pepper Choplin is an active composer, conductor and humorist. He has gained a reputation as one of the most creative writers in church music today. Beginning his music training at the age of four, he grew up singing and playing piano, trumpet, guitar and banjo. With a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

With a diverse musical background, Choplin composes incorporates varied styles such as folk, Gospel, classical, and jazz. His published work includes over two hundred anthems for church and school choir, ten church cantatas and one book of piano compositions. An original hymn, "Come to the Water" appears in the recent hymnal, Celebrating Grace. His anthems consistently appear in the top seller lists of publishers and distributors. Since 1991, his choral music has sold several million copies. Each week, thousands of singers present his music in churches and schools in the United States and around the world.

He travels to many churches and conferences to share his compositions, to conduct and to entertain. Beyond his choral music, Choplin has produced two humorous CDs and an inspirational recording. In his solo concerts, he moves audiences with his powerful ballads and his zany humor.

Currently, he serves as Minister of Music at Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he leads worship music and directs choirs for children, students, adults and handbells. There in his hometown, Choplin has conducted several mass performances of his Easter and Christmas cantatas in Meymandi Auditorium (home to the NC Symphony) with over two hundred voices and full orchestra.