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Head of Staff
Rev. Dr. Diane Janssen Hemmen diane@fpcrc.org 
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Diane serves as Program Coordinator and has been a part of the staff since 2011. A graduate of the University of Sioux Falls (B.A.), The Divinity School at Duke University (M.Div.), and Columbia Theological Seminary (D.Min.), she moved to Rapid City with her two amazing children and her wonderful husband in late 2007 when he accepted a call to serve as Senior Pastor at First Baptist. In addition to her part-time position here, she serves as minister at Hermosa United Church of Christ and PRN Chaplain for Rapid City Regional Hospital and for Rapid City Regional Hospital's Hospice of the Hills program. Diane enjoys time with her family and friends, a hot day at the beach, serving God and others, and eating chess pie.
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Director of Worship Arts
Paul Robinson paul@fpcrc.org 
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A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music in New York City (vocal performance), Paul took a six-year detour managing health clubs in Southern California and running a personal training studio in his hometown St. Louis before being drawn back to his musical roots. In addition to giving solo recitals during his time in St. Louis, Paul regularly performed with the St. Louis Symphony, the Bach Society of St. Louis and Union Avenue Opera. In 2013, he felt God calling him out of the fitness industry and into music ministry and one year later, Paul and his family were on their way to First Presbyterian Church in Rapid City!
Paul directs the Chancel Choir and Praise Team and serves as the organist for Sunday services. He is also an avid composer and arranger and regularly uses his compositions in worship. Because of his varied musical interests that include jazz and world music, services at First Presbyterian Church regularly feature songs and hymns from around the world. In addition to providing leadership for most congregational song in worship, the Chancel Choir presents major choral works each season of Advent and Lent. Recent works include Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio, Davis’ Small, Dancing Light and Chilcott’s St. John Passion. In January 2018, the Chancel Choir performed at the South Dakota ACDA convention in Rapid City and in November 2018 were invited to perform Mark Hayes’ Gloria and the world premiere of his Hodie Christus Natus Est at Carnegie Hall under the direction of the composer. An active presence in the local arts community, Paul has been a featured soloist or directed performances with the Dakota Choral Union, Black Hills Community Theatre, the Black Hills Playhouse and the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra – most recently, the title role in Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka at Black Hills Community Theatre. In addition, he serves as President of the Board for the Allied Arts Fund - a nonprofit agency that provides financial operating and promotional support for the arts in Rapid City and the Black Hills. He is married to Martha (see below) and they have two daughters – Emsley and Astoria. |
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Director of Youth/
Young Adults Martha Robinson martha@fpcrc.org 
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Martha is beginning her fifth year as the Director of Youth and Young Adults at FPC. Originally from Springfield, IL, she attended college at the University of Missouri- St. Louis where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. In 2014, God called her family to relocate to Rapid City when her husband, Paul, was hired as the Music Director at FPC. God is truly amazing and used Martha’s background in education to prepare her for youth ministry. She looks forward to continuing to learn new things in her position.
In addition to her work as Director of Youth and Young Adults, Martha teaches private cello lessons and plays in the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra. Martha and Paul also have two daughters, Emsley and Astoria. |
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Pastoral Associate
Paula Zavitz paula@fpcrc.org 
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Paula Zavitz was born and raised in Colorado. She attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins and received a BS in Early Childhood Education. After she and her husband, Bill, moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Paula received a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin. She taught in a variety of school settings until their children were born.
Her spiritual journey began as a child in the Congregational Church, but also took dramatic leaps through the course of sincere Bible study and in response to personal struggle. When her children had grown, Paula took the position of Director of Children's Ministries at First Presbyterian Church. Here she was inspired to pursue and receive certification as a Christian Educator, from the PCUSA. Paula is committed to following Jesus and excited about where He will lead the congregation here at First Presbyterian Church. |
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Office Coordinator/
Accompanist Shelly Tupper office@fpcrc.org |
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Shelly grew up in Armour, SD. She attended college at South Dakota State University where she sang in the concert choir, was a member of the swim team and met her husband, Seth. She finished her schooling at Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN, graduating with a degree in Professional Photography.
Seth and Shelly got married in 2003. They had their first child, Kaylie, in 2006 and second, Lincoln, in 2009. They moved to Rapid City, from Mitchell, in August of 2014. She loves yard work, gardening and hiking in the hills. She began playing the piano when she was 8 years old and has never stopped. Piano has always been a passion of hers. |
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Connections Coordinator
Dr. Melissa Bumbach melissa@fpcrc.org 
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Melissa Bumbach is a veteran teacher, conductor, and singer. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting with a cognate in Music Education from the University of Miami. She received her Master’s degree in Choral Conducting at the University of South Florida, where she was the Graduate Conducting Apprentice for the adult symphonic choir the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, resident chorus of The Florida Orchestra. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Palm Beach Atlantic University, a Christian university in West Palm Beach, FL. She has been awarded two research grants to fund doctoral research in Cuba. Previously, she was the choral director at Howard Middle School in Marion County, Florida where she was awarded a $10,000 grant for her choral program from the TV show GLEE and the National Association for Music Education. She went on to be named the 2012 Marion County Teacher of the Year. Dr. Bumbach’s choirs consistently earned Superior ratings at Music Performance Assessments, and she served as District Chair for the Florida Vocal Association, overseeing activities for chorus teachers and students in five counties. She has conducted All-County middle school choirs in multiple counties in Florida, and has served as adjudicator for middle and high school Choral and Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessments in Florida and South Dakota. Melissa has presented at conferences in Florida, Hawai’i, and South Dakota.
Melissa is also a frequent vocal soloist, performing works such as Handel’s “Messiah,” Mozart’s “Coronation Mass,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” and Henry Mollicone’s Misa de los Inmigrantes (Mass of the Immigrants). She has sung with numerous ensembles as a professional soloist and choral singer, including Na Wāi Women’s Chamber Choir in Hawai’i, 2nd Avenue Jewish Chorale, Musica Judaica, Palm Beach Opera chorus, Marion Civic Chorale, Nature Coast Festival Singers, and Ocala Summer Sacred Music Chorale. Dr. Bumbach has recorded with Gloria Estefan and sung the National Anthem at the 2016 CNN Republican Presidential Debate in Miami, FL. Her research interests include community-building, music teacher education, diversity, social justice, and Latin American choral music. Here at First Presbyterian Church, Melissa serves a dual mission as Connections Coordinator. Her primary efforts are centered on examining and enriching our congregational culture to enhance our relationships with one another and helping us cultivate a welcoming and nurturing spirit that is palpable to all who attend and visit our church. The outreach-focused aspect of her ministry seeks to engage us in service, encouraging and guiding us in using our gifts with other populations within our community in creative ways through her gifts in music. Melissa and her husband Matthew began dating while in their church youth group and their parents (both of their fathers are retired ministers) have known each other since before they were born. They moved to South Dakota when Matthew was named the Director of Choirs at the SD School of Mines and Technology. The Bumbachs enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills and the excitement of having seasons for the first time. They live with their two tuxedo cats Hurley and Sawyer and their sweet dog Sansa (adopted from Battle Mountain Humane Society in Hot Springs). They would love to share some of Rapid City’s amazing local coffee, wine, or craft beer and get to know you! |
