The Producer
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Michael Keith Ripka, (Arranger, Orchestrator, Conductor) has been a Worship Leader for 30 years and holds a BA in Applied Music from CCNY. His graduate studies include Composition with Karel Husa, Musical Theater with Lehman Engle at BMI, Jazz Arranging with Don Sebesky, Orchestration with Jan Meyerwitz and Screenplay writing with David Freeman.
He served as Director of Worship at Lakewood Church of God in Maryland for four years and Executive Producer of "Billings Alive!". He has worked behind the scenes on over three dozen Broadway Shows, Symphony, Ballet, Television and Industrial Shows and currently has a Broadway Show and a Motion Picture on the drawing board. His inspiration and appreciation for William Billings came from his choral mentor Gregg Smith while studying music at Ithaca College. He toured with the College Choir during the time Gregg Smith won the Grammy Award for "General Booth Enters Into Heaven - The Music of Charles Ives," and when he recorded "The Continental Harmony" for Columbia Records. Mr. Ripka has recorded three albums of his own worship music and a cast album recording of one of his own theatrical productions. He has had a passion for William Billings for over 30 years and has always envisioned this music to be more accessible to the contemporary choir and more dynamic for a contemporary audience with the orchestra that Billings never had. It is with that spirit in mind that this project was undertaken. Our purpose is to honor the memory of Billings so that he may come alive for a new generation of singers and listeners alike. This music is always fun to sing and always fascinating to listen to and now even more dynamic with a full orchestra. |
