Ryan J. Tibbetts
Artistic Director and Conductor
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. Prior to moving to Richmond, he served as Assistant Conductor of Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, Assistant Conductor of the Newark Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Newark Symphony Chorus. He has held visiting and adjunct faculty positions at Hampden-Sydney College, Randolph-Macon College, The College of New Jersey, and Bucknell University, and has served as Interim Organist-Choirmaster at St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Richmond), Organist and Choir Director at Summit Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia) and Director of Liturgical Music at St. Joseph Catholic Church (Delaware).
Dr. Tibbetts received his DM in Choral Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was the chorus master for several IU Opera Theater productions, an assistant conductor of the University Singers, and taught courses in undergraduate choral conducting. He received his BA in Music from Princeton University and his MM in Choral Conducting from the University of Delaware. He has studied conducting with William Jon Gray, Paul Head, Brian Stone, Richard Tang Yuk, Carmen Téllez, and Gary Wedow, and has participated in shorter class sessions and masterclasses with conductors such as Charles Bruffy, Vance George, Don Moses, Donald Nally, Robert Porco, Dennis Shrock and Dale Warland. Recent performances include Dominck Argento’s Walden Pond, Bach’s Magnificat, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Requiem Masses of Maurice Duruflé and Gabriel Fauré, Purcell’s Hail, bright Cecilia, and the Vivaldi Gloria . Dr. Tibbetts is also committed to programming the music of living composers, and in recent years has conducted works including Benjamin Broening’s Wit Wonders, Bob Chilcott’s Christmas Oratorio, Melissa Dunphy’s Suite Remembrance, Dan Forrest’s i thank You God and Jubilate Deo, Cecilia McDowall’s Stabat Mater and A Winter’s Night, and Zachary Wadsworth’s Benedicite. In the spring of 2023, he prepared singers from CVMC for the world premiere of Leonard Raybon’s Libby Prison. CVMC’s 2023-24 season will also feature the music of living composers with performances of John Rutter’s Magnificat, Elaine Hagenberg’s Illuminare, and the local premiere of William Payn’s LOVE, whose commission was partially funded by CVMC as part of a consortium with ensembles in Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
In addition to his work as a conductor, Dr. Tibbetts is also active as a professional singer and keyboard player. He is a member of The Piedmont Singers of Central Virginia and has sung with the professional Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond; prior to moving to Richmond, he was a member of the professional cores of Mendelssohn Chorus, Choral Arts Philadelphia, and The Philadelphia Singers. Since 2016, he has played harpsichord continuo with RVA Baroque, and he currently serves as Dean of the Richmond Chapter of the American Guild of Organists after having served as editor of the Chapter’s newsletter, the Stoplist, and a member-at-large on the executive committee. He has studied voice with Mary Ann Hart, Daniel Cole, Elem Eley, and Vince Treadway; he is currently an organ student of Grant Hellmers. Dr. Tibbetts is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife Kate and their cat, Rocky.
Daniel Stipe
Accompanist
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 served for five years as Director of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond, VA from 2013-2017.
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 2017 he was a featured recitalist at the convention of the American Guild of Organists in Richmond, and was featured in a solo recital at the Association of Anglican Musicians convention in 2022.
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 maintains an active concert schedule. 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, and plays regularly with the Richmond Symphony.
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, Julie Yu, and Rollo Dilworth.
Daniel lives in Richmond, where he serves as accompanist for the Richmond Symphony Chorus and the Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale, and as assistant 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.
Former Directors
Learn more about the past directors that have made this group what it is today.