Pepper Choplin studied composition at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth after completing his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Over the course of his career, he has created more than two hundred anthems and seven choral musicals, drawing from a diverse musical background that spans rock, classical, and bluegrass styles.
Choplin's work emerges directly from his role as Minister of Music at Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, where many of his pieces are born out of immediate worship needs. He travels nationally as a composer, clinician, conductor, and performer, known for blending inspirational and humorous material that moves audiences to both laughter and tears. His creative mission centers on crafting music that invites people into authentic worship through dramatic and engaging means.
Why we love this
Choplin writes sacred choral music that avoids sentimentality while maintaining genuine spiritual warmth. The text and melody work together with clarity, giving singers immediate access to meaning without requiring them to navigate complex harmonic terrain.
What to expect
The piece holds reverence and assurance in equal measure. Choplin's harmonic language feels contemporary yet rooted, allowing singers and listeners to experience the text with both intellectual clarity and emotional resonance.
Who it's for
Church and concert choirs seeking accessible, theologically substantial sacred music that engages singers without demanding virtuosic technique. This works equally well for volunteer church musicians and school choirs with performance experience.
How to get the most out of it
Establish the foundational harmonic movement early in rehearsal so singers can hear how their individual lines support the overall architecture rather than memorizing isolated parts.
Balance the text intelligently; this style depends on crisp consonants and shaped phrases that give congregations time to absorb lyrical content.
Consider the emotional arc across the full piece rather than treating sections in isolation, which will shape your tempo and dynamic choices organically.
How to use it
Slot this into a festival or concert program where you need a centerpiece that speaks to faith without alienating secular audiences. It also serves well as an anthem for services emphasizing Christ's eternal nature or presence.
Skills your students will build
Sustaining long phrases with consistent breath support
Balancing vertical sonority across four independent lines
Shaping sacred text for emotional and spiritual impact
Responding to harmonic changes that anchor melodic contour
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