Arts & Music

"Everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Hallelujah!" Psalm 150

Through music, drama, and the visual arts Christians use all of their senses to worship and reflect their Creator God.

We invite the participation of St. Markers of all ages in one of the ministries listed here, and your support through prayer and presence at services and special events.

St. Mark's welcomes our new Director of Worship Arts, Paul Grizzell

Paul Grizzell was most recently the Music Director at 1st Congregational UCC – Naperville for almost nine years where he engaged more than 80 parishioners in worship. His Chancel Choir performed many of the great sacred oratorios, including the Faure Requiem, Mozart Requiem and The Messiah. All these works were performed with orchestra. He also directed a brass quartet at the Christmas Eve and Easter Services. Paul hopes to bring some of this music to St. Mark’s and hopes that we will all support him with our many talents.

Paul is on the faculty at North Central College in Naperville where he teaches Voice, Vocal Pedagogy and Diction. He’s had students go on to sing in the touring production of The Lion King, including a Miss America Winner and a Miss Illinois Winner. He has worked on the stages of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Symphony Orchestra with whom he made his Carnegie Hall debut. He has performed on the stage of the Berlin Philharmonie and throughout England.

His education includes a Master of Music from Northwestern University in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music Ed. from Northern Illinois University in Choral Education. He has studied conducting with Margaret Hillis, the founding director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, and Dr. Elwood Smith.

His wife, Betsy Grizzell is also a singer, currently performing as a mezzo-soprano with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago A Cappella, and the Grant Park Symphony Chorus. She is also an early childhood music educator. Her “Betsy’s MusiKids” program brings the joy and discipline of music to children ages 16 months – 9 years, in programs ranging from parent & tot classes to pre-piano music literacy classes to piano keyboard classes. Betsy is a graduate of DePaul Univerity with a degree in Music Education.

Chris Grizzell is finishing his Associate’s Degree at College of DuPage. He will then move on to pursue a History degree with a minor in Broadcasting. He can be heard at one of the area’s best radio stations, College of DuPage’s WDCB. Chris is a fine percussionist, favoring Metallica as a drummer and Mahler as a timpanist.

Rose Grizzell will soon graduate from Naperville North High School. She hopes to pursue a career in Musical Theatre, and is currently looking at several colleges. Rose is an accomplished harpist, having appeared on WFMT’s “Introductions” program playing Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. She will continue to study harp when she moves on to college.