Romans

Romans was established as an organized and recognizable apostolate in the Cincinnati, Ohio area in July 1996 by four enthusiastic young Catholic men (Rick Crone, Mark Hingsbergen, Greg Schutte, and Jeff Schutte). All four are men were baptized and brought up in the Church by loving and dedicated parents. Their paths in life, however, took many directions before coming together as musicians dedicated to serving God and calling others into and back to the Catholic Faith. Romans was created out of a deep love for the Catholic Church, its music, and its Liturgy.

Three of the four members (Jeff, Mark, and Rick) had since 1983 been members of a part-time professional band playing mainstream dance music for the wedding reception and private party market. They had been building and refining their musical talents as well as developing a sense for what musical concepts have broad appeal, and gradually felt the call of the Holy Spirit to direct these skills toward a greater purpose. Their many years together have enabled them to perform as a unit and have given them a unique sensibility for contemporary music.

The fourth member (Greg) has had a liturgical focus in his music since 1983. Greg refined his vocal and acoustic guitar abilities during this time, and developed a confident and reverent liturgical presence by assisting at hundreds of Masses. His specialty was providing liturgically correct music for wedding ceremonies, in keeping with diocesan directives. Greg has also directed choirs and performed in Catholic theater, and has written numerous songs as well as a musical based Christ's Passion.

Since Greg and Jeff are brothers, the four members of Romans had much interaction during these years. Many times Jeff, Rick, and Mark found themselves accompanying Greg at a wedding ceremony then playing the reception afterward as part of a "wedding package" arrangement. These presentations led to requests to provide music at Sunday Masses and other functions such as pro-life banquets. The natural outgrowth of these events was a more organized and established entity, and thus Romans was born.

Romans' primary focus is the presentation of popular Catholic music with contemporary orchestration, a dynamic yet reverent style, and an underlying orthodoxy that conforms to the liturgical reforms expressed in the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Romans has the twofold musical goal of presenting well-known Catholic songs and hymns as well as new music for both liturgical renewal and recreational listening. Since its inception, the members of Romans have been diligently recording and writing music, assisting at Mass, studying the Catholic Faith, and developing a deeper prayer life while maintaining their primary roles as heads of families. They have provided music for 10,000 men at the Cincinnati Catholic Men's Conference for three consecutive years, and have played a number of concerts including Catholic Musicfest '98 and '99. The group's first project, "Come to Life", was released in September 1998, and a second project is already being planned. Response from the faithful has been overwhelmingly positive, and a "tour" of local parishes is currently underway.

Romans' major musical strength lies in its arrangements, to which all four members contribute. Though their musical skills are strong and their vocal abilities are quite solid, they do not adopt a "virtuoso" approach to performing and recording. And while there are solo voices and instruments where appropriate, Romans exhibits a distinct preference for the synergy of vocal harmonies and compelling orchestration. Their trademark a capela break at the climax of a song is evidence of their team approach to arranging as well as a reminder of the Church's deep roots in choral music and chant.

The members of Romans humbly acknowledge the many gifts that God has given them as well as their many shortcomings. They seek to glorify God by proving once again that God can make use of ordinary men to do extraordinary things.