Robert Hobby

Biography

Robert A. Hobby is Director of Music at Trinity English Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the congregation of almost 3,500 members, his responsibilities include playing for many of the worship services, overseeing the graded choral program, and managing the concerts that the church offers. Among the numerous activities during his tenure, Trinity Church has established a choral series with seventeen composers commissioned thus far, hosted a regional convention of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, produced four recordings, and expanded the opportunities for music ministry, including an active youth choir of forty teenagers.

Mr. Hobby received his Bachelor's Degree in Church Music from Wittenberg University in 1985 and a Master's Degree in Organ Performance from the University of Notre Dame in 1987. His organ teachers have included Darwin Leitz, Kirby and Kristi Koriath, Donald Busarow, and Craig Cramer. His private study in composition has been under Donald Busarow and Richard Hillert. He has had private coaching in improvisation with Paul Manz, and most recently, he has had compositional coaching from English composer, Andrew Carter.

To date, most of his composition time has been spent writing commissions for churches and organizations throughout the country. Over one hundred of Mr. Hobby's compositions are in print with Augsburg Fortress, Choristers Guild, Concordia Publishing House, G. I. A. Publishers, MorningStar Music Publishers, Northwestern Publishers, Pavane Publishing Co., and Warner Brothers Publishers. His music has been heard on nationally syndicated radio programs such as "The Lutheran Hour", "Pipe Dreams", and "Sing for Joy".

As a performer and clinician Mr. Hobby keeps an active schedule throughout the United States. Robert and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents of three daughters: Hannah, Lydia, and Elizabeth.

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