In May 2025, the Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale will be performing Johann Sebastian Bach's St John Passion with soloists and orchestra.
In this expressive work, Bach set an anonymous text adapted from Barthold Heinrich Brockes's poem "Der für die Sünde der Welt gemartert und sterbende Jesus" ("Jesus, Martyred and Dying for the Sins of the World"), which is based on the Gospel of John. The Passion was written during Bach's first year as director of church music in Leipzig and first performed on Good Friday 1724.
Concerts:
Richmond – Friday, May 16, 7:00 p.m.
Grace Baptist Church
4200 Dover Rd.
Richmond, VA
Ashland – Sunday, May 18, 3:00 p.m.
Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church
201 Henry Street Ashland, VA
Consider joining us!
Do you enjoy singing with a group, mastering challenging choral works, improving your singing talent - and live in the Central Virginia area?
Sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses are all welcome. Although formal musical training is not required, previous experience with choral singing is encouraged. Simple auditions with the director are for vocal placement within the group.
If you are interested in joining us for Spring 2025—Johann Sebastian Bach's St John Passion—don't hesitate to contact us. Rehearsals begin Monday, January 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Ashland, VA. Register for the spring season 6:30-7:00 PM that evening. Concerts will be held Friday, May16 at 7:00 at Grace Baptist in Richmond, and Sunday, May 18 at 3pm at Duncan Memorial UMC in Ashland.
Conductor Ryan J. Tibbetts began his tenure as the fourth Artistic Director and Conductor of the Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale in August 2015. Since 2015, he has also served as the Artistic Director of the Richmond Concert Chorale, and in 2017 he became Director of Music at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Goochland.
Accompanist Daniel Stipe is equally at home as a solo recitalist, collaborator and arranger on both the piano and the organ. His large and varied concert repertory, with special focus on works of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, continues to delight audiences nationwide.