JK Hilbert, Conductor/Artistic Director

JK Hilbert has directed the Steiner Chorale since September 2025. He earned his masters degree in piano performance from Michigan State University, studying with both Ralph Votapek and Deborah Moriarty. He was also the assistant director of the MSU orchestras as a candidate in the DMA conduction program at MSU.

JK has a wide variety of professional experiences as artistic director, conductor, composer/arranger, and educator, in musical genres ranging from classical to Broadway, pop and film music. He has conducted orchestras and choruses of every size all over the country. He has lived in Los Angeles for the past 25 years and has scored movies for Sony Pictures, directed for the San Francisco Opera, the Oakland Lyric Opera, and the Sacramento Opera. He has composed several oratorios and children’s musicals, as well as two full length Broadway musicals.

Born in St. Joseph, Michigan, JK recently returned to Michigan from L.A. to be closer to his family. He brings a fun creative energy and a deep commitment to community centered performances.

Jeff Richards, Accompanist

Jeff Richards was born and raised in St. Johns where he began studying piano at the age of ten with Diantha Witteveen. He then went on to study with Jean Hull and Deborah Moriarty at MSU. After a career as an accompanist in Chicago, he has come back to St Johns and is the music director at St. Joseph Parish and also serves Saint Martha Parish in Okemos. He is also the accompanist for the Mint City Singers, the Laingsburg Community Singers, and was recently appointed as the accompanist for Lansing’s Steiner Chorale. While in Chicago, Jeff was involved in a variety of musical activities including directing musicals for Royal Caribbean International, and was one of the audition pianists for the Rockettes.

The Board of Directors

Abby Grieb (President)
Holly Plaga (Vice President)
Nancy Pike (Treasurer)
Carrie Simon (Secretary)
Gary Cloud (Member-at-Large)
Dan LeVeque (Member-at-Large)