Leadership

Interim Music Director - Anthony Blake Clark

ANTHONY BLAKE CLARK enjoys a reputation as one of the freshest young voices in classical music. He is currently in his sixth season as Music Director of the nationally acclaimed and Emmy Award winning Baltimore Choral Arts Society and is the Artistic Director of New York City’s Bach Vespers.

During his tenure with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Anthony Blake Clark has consistently received rave reviews, both for work on the podium in his subscription concerts and his preparation of choruses for performances with the Baltimore Symphony and other regional orchestras. Winner of the 2019-2020 American Prize in choral conducting and recipient of the 2020 Chorus America Alice Parker Award, Clark’s leadership of Baltimore Choral Arts has also been acknowledged with a nomination for the American Prize for best choral performance. He annually conducts and produces the celebrated “Christmas with Choral Arts,” televised on ABC2 which was recently nominated for an Emmy Award. The premiere choral organization in the Baltimore region, BCAS reaches more than 100,000 people each year and is an integral part of the fabric of Baltimore’s performing arts scene. In 2022 he and Choral Arts will make their Berlin debut at the Philharmonie with the Frei Universität Orchester, then will continue to Vienna where his choirs will perform with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop.

Anthony Blake Clark is also the Artistic Director of Bach Vespers in New York City. In residence at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church next to Lincoln Center, the Bach Choir and Players are composed of some of the finest early music professionals in the nation. Their mission is to present the works of Bach using historically informed practices within a liturgical context.

Mr. Clark’s passion for academia has led him to serve as the Director of Choral Activities at George Washington University where his choirs performed at the Kennedy Center and Washington National Cathedral. Recently he was Guest Conductor/Lecturer for the Westminster Choir College.

Clark has prepared choruses for legends like Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Simon Halsey, Marin Alsop, Fabio Luisi, and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla for ensembles including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (UK), Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Rundfunk Chor Berlin. He has conducted in projects from Lincoln Center’s “Mostly Mozart Festival” to the London Symphony Chorus’s “Come and Sing” days. Clark is equally adept in the orchestral field and made his Baltimore Symphony debut in 2021. He has also appeared as cover conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra and has assisted Marin Alsop at the Baltimore Symphony.

In 2021 he began his graduate studies in Orchestral Conducting at the Peabody Institute where he is a student of Marin Alsop. Mr. Clark completed a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting under Simon Halsey at the United Kingdom’s University of Birmingham.

“I was thrilled to be asked to serve in the role of Chorus Director this season for the Richmond Symphony Chorus! I am grateful to be joining in the work of sharing the joy of music across this community. I have a tremendous admiration for Maestra Peleggi’s musical vision for the Richmond Symphony and am excited to partner with her, the orchestra, and the chorus to achieve the ambitious musical goals of the organization. I look forward to bringing my passion for the great choral-orchestral masterworks to each rehearsal and performance in Richmond this season!”

Assistant Director, Kevin Barger

Kevin Barger has served as the Director of Music Ministry at Epiphany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia since 1997. At Epiphany, he has responsibility for serving as the church’s organist as well as leading adult and children’s vocal choirs, adult handbells, brass and wind/string ensembles as well as youth music activities. Kevin has been a member of the Richmond Symphony chorus for more than 25 years and, in addition to singing, has served as the assistant rehearsal pianist for several years. Kevin has served on the worship committee for the Virginia Synod (ELCA), and he has served as an instructor for the Synod’s Power in the Spirit on several occasions. He was a faculty member of the Leadership Program for Musicians for several years. Kevin recently completed his term as President of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and is currently serving as Past President of the organization. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Thiel College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Rehearsal Pianist - Daniel Stipe

Daniel Stipe, Pianist

Daniel Stipe is equally at home as a solo recitalist, collaborator and arranger on both the piano and the organ.
He earned a BM in organ and piano performance from the University of North Texas in 2006, studying with Adam Wodnicki and Jesse Eschbach. He served as assistant university organist at the University of the South from 2007-2010, and he earned a MM in organ performance from Westminster Choir College in 2012 studying with Ken Cowan.
He is a prizewinner in the William Hall Pipe Organ Competition in San Antonio, the Tulsa Crescendo Music Awards, the Fort Wayne National Organ Playing Competition, and the AGO/Quimby Region VII Competition for Young Organists. In 2022 he was a featured recitalist at the convention of the Association of Anglican Musicians in Richmond.
As a collaborator, Daniel has worked with dozens of vocal and choral ensembles, and has an extensive knowledge of the string and wind repertory. He is a founding member of the Piedmont Singers of Central Virginia, a professional octet focusing on works by living composers. He was chosen to be one of the staff accompanists for the 2020 Menuhin International violin competition. He plays regularly with the Richmond Symphony both in the pit and on their summer recital series.
Since 2007 he has served as accompanist for the North Texas Children’s Choir festivals in Dallas, working with acclaimed clinicians like Ruth Dwyer, Herbert Washington, and Julie Yu.
Daniel lives in Richmond, where he serves as accompanist for the Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale, as accompanist for the Richmond Symphony Chorus, and as principal organist at All Saints Episcopal Church. He also manages the Concerts at Trinity series at Trinity Lutheran Church. Since 2017 he has tuned and serviced pianos in the Richmond area. In his spare time he enjoys road cycling, hiking, role-playing games, and good literature.

Chorus Manager - Chris Pennington

Christopher Pennington currently serves as the Artistic Assistant and Chorus Manager for the Richmond Symphony. A Richmond native, Chris got his start in music on Piano at age 6 and Clarinet at age 8 and is a graduate of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. During his time in YOP he performed with the Youth Concert Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Amy Birdsong, Erin Freeman, and Daniel Myssyk. Upon graduating from high school, he attended James Madison University where he was a member of the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and the Marching Royal Dukes. While there, he attained his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. He also holds a Master's Degree from the University of South Carolina in Clarinet Performance where he was a member of the Wind Ensemble and a Graduate Assistant for the Carolina Band.
In addition to his Richmond Symphony responsibilities, Chris freelances as a clarinetist and teaches private lessons, and outside of his musical endeavors, he is an avid sports fan, outdoor enthusiast, and enjoys spending his time with his fiancé and two cats.

Additional leadership

Barbara Batson, Carl Eng, and Lisa Fusco, Rehearsal Assistants
Lauren Crapanzano, Soprano Section Leader
Kristen Melzer, Alto Section Leader
Aaron Todd, Tenor Section Leader
James Romanik, Bass Section Leader