ABOVE: A farewell photo of David Christopher with the SsAM Adult Choir at the 11pm Christmas Eve service in 2025. David is in the back, far right. The Rev. Patrick Burke is second from left in the back row. To download this photo to your computer, click on the image to see it larger in a new tab, then right-click it. To ask for a high resolution version of the image, click here to use the Contact Us form on this website.
David Christopher left SsAM at the end of 2025.
On October 9, 2025, the SsAM congregation learned that our talented director of music would be leaving for California at the end of 2025. His last service was Sunday, December 28, 10:30am. Click here to read letters from Father Patrick and from David.
Farewell Sendoff on December 14, 2025.
Five inches of snow fell overnight, so only the stout-hearted and the early risers made it to the reception after the 10:30am service. The inflatable palm trees and flamingos made a nice contrast to the snow outside. Photos by Sherry Goodill. Click on any photo to see it larger.
About David Christopher
David Christopher, MM, CAGO, has served as the Organist, Director of Music and Associate for Liturgy 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, yet incorporating a wide range of musical styles including chant, spirituals, jazz, gospel and world music. As a liturgical 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.
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, First Presbyterian Church in Newark, Delaware, and Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. David received his undergraduate degree in keyboard and vocal performance at West Chester University, and recently completed a graduate degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Music as a student of Donald Sutherland. Other notable organ teachers have included Harry Wilkinson, Robert Elmore and Alan Morrison.
As a conductor, D
avid has built a varied and highly successful history as an interpreter of choral, orchestral and stage works. He has served as associate conductor for Opera Delaware where he made his opera conducting debut to critical acclaim in The Gondoliers (Gilbert & Sullivan), conducted Die Fledermaus (Strauss), and served as assistant conductor for numerous productions. Other operatic credits include Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), The Merry Widow (Lehar), La Traviata (Verdi), Savitiri (Holst), The Tender Land (Copland), Carmen (Bizet), The Nightingale (Stravinsky), as well as most of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire.
Through his association as conductor for the City of Wilmington, David has served as conductor and music director for the All-American Tribute Orchestra as part of the annual 4th of July Celebration in Tubman-Garrett Park at the Riverfront in Wilmington. On several occasions he has conducted concerts featuring the sacred music of Duke Ellington (featuring jazz orchestra, soloists, chorus and dancers) in collaboration with Tina Betz and the City of Wilmington as part of the DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington.
David is also the current artistic director of Delaware ChoralArts, a position he has held since 2005. Recent major oratorio and choral credits include Ein deutsches Requiem (Brahms) with DVC and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Messiah (Handel), Grand Mass in C (Mozart), Holocaust Cantata (McCullough), Chichester Psalms (Bernstein), Judas Maccabaeus (Handel), Lux Aeterna (Lauridsen), and Requiems by Durufle, Fauré and Rutter.
Also a recognized leader in training children’s voices, David founded The Wilmington Children’s Chorus in 2002 in collaboration with the Mayor of Wilmington’s Office of Cultural Affairs and The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew. Now a multi-cultural ensemble with over 100 children and staffed by some of the area’s finest music educators, The Wilmington Children’s Chorus has become one of the premiere children’s choirs in the region.
