Introduction!

Hi friends!  Welcome to my website, but even more specifically, welcome to this corner of my website where you will get to know me and follow along on my musical journey a little more closely.  My hope for this medium is to glorify the name of my God and to be an encouragement to y’all in the meantime!  

My name is Casey Hoffmire, but I will be Casey Rinkenberger after June 22, 2024, when I marry my high school sweetheart, Quinn!!  I currently am based in Waco, Texas, studying violin performance at Baylor University; however, I will be moving back to my original stomping grounds of Morton, Illinois after I graduate in May.  

I hope this space of the site will encourage musicians of all kinds:  music lovers, music educators and everyone in between.  You can expect to see posts that talk a lot about Jesus and music, but also posts about certain pieces of music, posts that speak to life as a Christian musician, my experiences, some thoughts I may want to share, and maybe even a devotional here and there.  

You will get to know me as a person who loves music, but also as a person who has many other interests and passions.  I love my family and friends and enjoy spending time with them.  I also love mowing the lawn, refurbishing furniture, baking, fishing, and getting involved in my church and my community.  I love fall and everything that comes with it, plus I love planning events and organizing my schedule.  I love my hometown of Morton, Illinois, and therefore I love pumpkins (since we are the proud Pumpkin Capital of the World) and Abraham Lincoln (since he spent much of his life in rural IL).  I also LOVE Texas and how it stands for faith, family, and freedom.  I enjoy going anywhere I can wear my cowgirl boots and I love cheering on the Baylor Bears.  I love America and am proud to call it my home.  I love listening to country music, jazz, and lots of Christmas music after Thanksgiving!  

Sometimes as a musician, it can be easy to let music overtake and exhaust your life.  I want to liberate anyone who feels trapped in that way of living… you can love and be devoted to music, but it doesn’t have to be your everything.  You can still do it well and have other interests, passions, and loves.  With the right tools, you can do it all!  Don’t let other people pressure you into doing what’s typically done.  You get to decide how you want your music to make a difference.  

For example, it’s very rare to find musicians who don’t study music into their graduate education or even doctoral education.  But very early on, I knew that’s not what I personally wanted.  In a short 7 months I will be happily graduating to marry my best friend and start building a life with him in a small town in the middle of miles of corn fields.  At the same time, I am very excited to use the gifts I believe God has given me and the tools I’ve gained through my time in Texas to reinvigorate the music scene in central Illinois.   

Be sure to check back here from time to time to follow along on my journey of being a musician in the central Illinois area, among other things.  I have no idea what the future holds, but I’m excited to find out and to include you all in the fun.  “The heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9