Daily Inspiration: Meet Greg Gilpin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Gilpin.

Hi Greg, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am originally from Missouri and graduated with a degree in music education from Northwest Missouri State University. I moved to Indiana to a small town called Alexandria because I had learned of recording studios there and wanted to try my hand as a singer in the recording industry. Indianapolis was also a hot spot for recording jingle/commercial work as well as industrial work.

Many publishers came to Alexandria and Indianapolis to record their new works, as well. I slowly got involved in this industry. I never took a full-time teaching job because I wanted to explore so many other areas of the music industry. I’m grateful to say that every job I’ve had has been related to music and my degree in music. It looks like a long list of side jobs to most people but musicians understand!

I had gotten published in college with some choral writing and I continued to build my catalog. In the 80s, I went all over the country choreographing show choirs and concert choirs. I taught voice and piano and worked part-time with the music educators in my community. Indiana was a little hot spot for the gospel and contemporary Christian music. I found myself singing back-up for Bill and Gloria Gaither in studio sessions then traveled as a backup singer and pianist for Ray Boltz which then led to singing back-up with Sandi Patty.

I also sang for over a decade with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for various programs including their Yuletide Celebration, each year. In the late 90s, one of my publishers, Shawnee Press, asked me to work for them heading up one of their school divisions. That job began small and grew through the years, especially have Shawnee Press was acquired by Hal Leonard Corporation, the largest publisher of print music in the world.

All of this experience led me to more writing and arranging which has led to more conducting taking me across the country and internationally. I conduct thousands of singers every year and work with music educators, as well, at conferences throughout the United States. I am the Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press and I continue to be well-published with various other choral publishers.

In March 2020, I had just finished conducting an honor choir at Carnegie Hall when the whole world shut down with the pandemic. It was a horrible time and still is for the arts. While I sat in my office later in September trying to think of more ways to remain “relevant” in my music industry, I came across a free webinar with Dorothy Breininger, professional organizer and producer on the hit TV show, “Hoarders”.

I took her webinar out of curiosity and discovered I had a real talent for organizing. I had been one my whole life and perhaps this could be a non-musical path for me during the pandemic. Dorothy and I connected, I took her classes and got certified as a Boss Organizer and began working with her company as well as making appearances as an organizer with her on “Hoarders”.

I began my own organizing company in 2021 called Maestro Organizing and continue that work today, even as my music career roars back full steam. I have found organizing is very connected to my musical work in a rehearsal. It’s been amazing and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to spread my wings a bit in something new at this stage in my life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never smooth but I’ve made more good choices than bad. I try to learn, be aware, productive, and energetic and my motto is always “play well with others.” It’s moved me along well on this journey. My bad decision-making has always been when I wasn’t listening.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
My organizing career and Maestro Organizing will continue indefinitely. As long as I have the energy for it, I guess. We are a country of consumers and we have too much stuff. The need to declutter, organize and even minimize is huge. I hope to help many more people in the future with my business.

Music, I’m not sure. It’s recovering from the pandemic. It looks different in a way and I’m not sure the industry has learned all its lessons. I hope for the best LOVE what I do and will continue to create music.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.GregGilpin.com and  www.MaestroOrganizing.com
• Instagram: @ggilp64
• Facebook: @Greg Gilpin and Maestro Organizing
• Youtube: @The Greg Gilpin Channel

Image Credits:
Greg Gilpin and Distinguished Concerts International New York