Phil Klemp has been the Director of Music at St. Martin's Lutheran Church and School since Christmas 1999. He directs the Senior Choir, Junior Choir, and Jubellation bell choir; coordinates all instrumentalists and vocalists; accompanies the majority of worship services; and is responsible for the music education program in our middle school.

Mr. Klemp came to St. Martin’s from St. John Lutheran Church and School in Wheaton, Illinois, where he served as Director of Music for four years. Previous to this he completed Parish Music internships at St. Stephanus Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Michael Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minnesota; was the choir director at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota; and served as Director of Music, Youth and Outreach at St. John Lutheran Church in Chaska, Minnesota. His music experience in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod extends over twenty-five years, considering the music ministry of the KLEMP FAMILY SINGERS, who began singing when he, the oldest of eight children, was in second grade.

Mr. Klemp received his elementary education at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Fairmont, Minnesota, and at Zion Lutheran School in Cologne, Minnesota. He graduated from Lutheran High School in Mayer, Minnesota; and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in the Director of Parish Music (DPM) program from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1990. Graduate work at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, led to a Master’s degree in Church Music-Choral Conducting in 1995.

Phil Klemp is the son of Rev. Paul and Katherine Klemp of Waconia, Minnesota. His wife, Alyssa, the daughter of Rev. Eugene and Barbara Chase, Jr. of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morristown, Minnesota, also graduated from Concordia University, St. Paul and is a commissioned teacher of the LCMS having taught second grade at St. John Lutheran School, Chaska, Minnesota, until 1995. They have three children, Cadence (age 10), Rebekah (age 8), and Emily (5).

CLICK HERE FOR DEAR M.D.