David Christopher, Organist and Director of Music
or call him at 302 656-6628.
David Christopher has served as the Organist and Director of Music at The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew (SsAM) since April of 2001. During that time, he has developed a rich, multi-cultural musical and liturgical program based in the Anglican tradition, but incorporating a wide range of musical styles including chant, spirituals, jazz, gospel and world music. As organist, David's unique style of improvisation and service playing has served as the "glue" which holds together a liturgy embracing the music of many styles, cultures and faith traditions. Defining elements of the music ministry during David's time at SsAM have included the Season of Creation, the Winter Solstice Celebration, the Annual Interfaith Concert for Peace, Carnival Sunday and the Service of Tenebrae incorporating Gregorian Chant and improvisations by Ana Hernandez and Ruth Cunningham.
With a long and highly successful history as a conductor of choral and orchestral works, David was appointed Artistic Director of the Delaware Valley Chorale in the Fall of 2005 and is well known for his acclaimed performances of "The Best of Duke Ellington's Sacred Jazz Concerts" at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Since 2004, he has conducted the All American Tribute Orchestra which performs for Wilmington's 4th of July Celebrations, and, in February of 2008, David made his OperaDelaware debut conducting Gondoliers.
Having gained recognition as a leader in training children's voices and working with developmental problems in young singers, David has developed a number of outstanding choral groups for young people. In collaboration with Mayor Baker’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the City of Wilmington, David is the founding conductor of the Wilmington Children’s Chorus, a multi-cultural children’s choir for the greater Wilmington area. Formed in 2002, this 100-voice children’s chorus is comprised of four choirs. Children from 3rd grade through high school are trained by a staff of some of the area’s finest music educators. As a faculty member of the Rudolf Steiner School in NYC and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, David has specialized in working with pitch-challenged children as well as the boy's changing voice.
Before coming to SsAM, David served as the Organist and Director of Music at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in the Great Valley in Paoli, Pennsylvania, Organist and Director at First Presbyterian Church in Newark, Delaware, and Organist and Director of Music at Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. David is a graduate of West Chester University, where he studied on scholarship, majoring in voice and keyboard. The winner of numerous awards and competitions, David credits much of his musical success to the influence of such great teachers as Jane Sheppard (conducting), Robert Elmore (organ), and Cornelius Reid (singing and vocal pedagogy).
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The
Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew
719 North Shipley Street, Wilmington,
DE 19801
Voice: (302) 656-6628
copyright 2002-2008 The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew