JOEL RANEY (b. 1956) has taken the church music scene by storm, with over 250 titles in print, primarily with Hope Publishing where he serves as Editor. His innovative style and inspired arranger’s instincts put his numerous choral anthems, musicals and cantatas, handbell compositions, piano solos, and instrumental works at the top of sales charts year after year. In addition to publishing with Hope, Joel’s work can be found in the catalogs of Heritage Press, Shawnee, Hal Leonard, Alfred, Fred Bock Music, Jubilate, and AGEHR.
Joel is a sought-after choral and keyboard clinician, and stays busy performing throughout North America as a piano soloist and in duo-concert with organist and fellow Hope Editor, Jane Holstein. They have released a CD recording of organ-piano duets; Kum Ba Yah, and Joel has four solo piano CD’s to his credit; An Instrument of Your Peace; This Is My Story, This Is My Song; Overtures of Praise; and Images of Christmas. For more than a decade, Joel was Artist-in-Residence at the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, Il, and currently serves as Minister of Music at the First Baptist Church of Oak Park, Il. He makes his home in River Forest with wife Susie and their three sons, Charlie, Sawyer and Jesse.
JANE HOLSTEIN is delighted to be a part of today’s concert and return, once again, to her alma mater. Upon graduating from Olivet Nazarene University, Jane continued her music studies at the University of Kansas and went on to receive a Doctor of Music from Northwestern University in organ performance. She is active in church music as Director of Music Ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest where she oversees the vocal choirs, handbell choir, and brass ensemble, and works with their Associate for Music Ministry, Dr. Josh Ring. One of her greatest joys is leading worship from the organ bench as the congregation sings the great hymns of the church. Jane has recently retired from her position as music editor at Hope Publishing Company where she served for twenty-five years. During that tenure she edited several hymnal publications, multiple keyboard collections, countless choral publications, and many other church-related products. She stays busy as organist, pianist, worship planner, concert artist, and grandmother of two.
