MEET OUR DIRECTOR
David Pedersen became the artistic director and conductor of the James River Singers in 2011 after having joined the ensemble as a singer in 2007. Mr. Pedersen serves as director of music at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, where he conducts adult and youth choirs. He was the director of the University of Richmond Women’s Chorale from 2008 - 2021 and served as interim director of Schola Cantorum in 2011 and 2020. Mr. Pedersen frequently serves as clinician and adjudicator at choral festivals. He has previously directed the music programs at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Newport News, Virginia, and Risen Christ Catholic Community in Boise, Idaho. He founded and directed the Honor Choir, Women’s Chorale and Classical Guitar Ensemble at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Idaho from 2003 to 2006. Ensembles under his direction have earned top ratings at festivals and competitions, and have performed on concert tours of the United States as well as Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. He has also performed in Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, and China. In 2006 his high school choirs were invited to perform in Austria and Czech Republic for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth.
Mr. Pedersen holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
MEET OUR ACCOMPANIST
Keith Tan is joining us for his fourteenth season as rehearsal and concert accompanist with the James River Singers. Keith Tan is the Music Minister at Christ Church Episcopal (1998 to present) in Richmond, Virginia. He established numerous worship bands, choirs, and produced six albums with Christ Church musicians. As pianist and singer/songwriter, he recorded and produced his debut solo album Inscribe in 2003 and released his sophomore album Something Real in 2010. As a local composer and arranger, Keith was commissioned by Richmond Shakespeare to arrange a piece for them and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, for the grand opening of CenterStage in Richmond (2009). He was also commissioned by Richmond Choral Society to compose a choral work for their 75th anniversary celebration in 2015. Keith also serves as rehearsal and concert accompanist for the Richmond Choral Society (since 2009). As a worship leader, Keith has performed and spoken at worship conferences.
Keith has been a piano instructor for 20+ years, including teaching piano at University of Richmond (1998-2007), and currently teaches at the Center of Creative Arts at Shady Grove UMC, Glen Allen. He graduated B.Mus. in Piano Performance with Honors from University of Richmond, and M.A. in Practical Theology from Regent University, VA.
