The Randolph-Macon College Chamber Singers and Concert Choir are something to sing about. Under the direction of Music Professor Christopher O. Ryder, the groups regularly perform both on campus and off.

Chamber Singers
“The Chamber Singers are an ensemble of 12 singers, and are all also members of the Concert Choir,” explains Ryder, who has been director of RMC’s Choral Activities since he joined the faculty in 2005. “The Chamber Singers give several performances each semester. This semester, for example, they performed for our Japanese visitors, sang as part of an annual memorial service for the Mary Washington HealthCare Hospice organization in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and performed for RMC’s Boydton Society.”

The Chamber Singers recently performed for an audience of faculty, students and staff in the Thomas Branch Atrium, where they lent their voices to a variety of tunes, from Johnny Mercer’s “Dream” to Ruth Morris Gray’s traditional Japanese poem, “Hisakata No.” They were joined on stage by RMC Concert Choir alumni, including Mario Jackson ’15, Bennie Ashton ’15, Samantha Albertson ’14, Christine Johnson ’14, Marlana Cirillo ’14, and Crystal Ingram ’14. In addition to Ryder, student conductors Tori Santiago Troutman ’18 and Jake Young ’18 led the group.

Concert Choir
There are nearly 60 members in the RMC Concert Choir, representing many academic disciplines, and also representing sororities and fraternities, clubs, and athletics teams. Most recently, the Concert Choir performed on May 6 in Blackwell Auditorium, RMC Center for the Performing Arts. Applied Music Professor Jodie McDowell-Brill served as accompanist; Shelby Jacobs ’18 (music major; education minor), Tori Santiago Troutman ’18 (history and music major) and Jake Young ’18 (music major; religious studies minor) served as student conductors; and Austin Wachsmuth ’20 (music major; English minor) served as student accompanist. The Choir performed a variety of songs, including Sam Pottle’s “Jabberwocky,” and “Beyond this Day” by Adjunct Music Professor Anthony Kouri Williams ’11.

During January Term (J-term) 2018, the Concert Choir will travel to England and Scotland in conjunction with Ryder’s course, Choral Music on Location, which is paired with Religious Studies Professor Hal Breitenberg’s course, English Reformation and the Rise of Methodism.

“This will be the fourth international tour that the Choir has taken since 2008,” says Ryder. “During the tour, the Choir will perform at some of the United Kingdom’s most historic cathedrals, which are some of the major venues for choral music in the world. Experiences will include workshops and performances with the choirs of Salisbury Cathedral, The College of Royal Holloway, Selwyn College Cambridge, and Ely Cathedral.”

Music Professor Christopher O. Ryder
In addition to serving as director of Choral Activities at RMC, Ryder serves as minister of music at Fredericksburg Baptist Church, music director of the Fredericksburg Community Chorus, and artistic director of Maranatha Music Ministries. He is active as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor for choirs in Virginia and beyond.

Ryder earned his B.A. from Mary Washington College with emphases in voice and viola; his M.A. in choral conducing from George Mason University; and his D.M.A. in music education from the Shenandoah Conservatory.

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