Chris Siebold is named Minister of Music
Chris Siebold will serve as minister of music with Congregational United Church of Christ – St.
Charles, beginning March 1, 2018. Joining a professional musical staff that includes Carol
Latimer, organist, and Joe Blomquist, bell choir director, Siebold will coordinate the church’s
music ministries, direct its chancel choir, and regularly perform as a soloist and worship leader.
He especially looks forward to cultivating the musical gifts and interests of church members,
making new and creative ways to participate musically in worship.
As musical director at the Chicago campus of Willow Creek Community Church from 2011 to
2015, Siebold served in a wide range of creative and administrative leadership for weekly
services at the Auditorium Theater, planning worship with the church’s creative team, composing
and performing original music and arrangements, managing programs and conducting various
ensembles.
Chris was guitarist in the house band of A Prairie Home Companion, with Garrison Keillor, 2014-
17. He has live performance and recording credits with some of the most respected artists of
the day, including Paul McCartney, Brad Paisley, Howard Levy, and Taj Mahal. He has nine
years of experience teaching jazz improvisation at the college level, and is a session guitarist
collaborating on countless artistic and commercial recording projects. Most recently he has
been active as a producer and performer in the Chicago music scene, and has been teaching at
Elmhurst College from which he graduated with a BA in Music.
In addition to the guitar, Chris plays bass, lap steel, dobro, mountain and hammered dulcimers,
mandolin, banjo, and mandocello.
CUCC is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, rooted in the
progressive Protestant tradition of Christianity, practicing extravagant hospitality, focused on
building up a community of reconciliation, justice, peace and joy.