About RCS
The Richmond Choral Society is the Richmond area’s oldest continuously-performing community arts organization. Since 1946, RCS has enriched audiences with performances of diverse sacred and secular repertoire. Currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Markus J. Compton, the chorus continuously strives for enhanced musicality and professionalism. RCS has tackled an increasingly demanding repertoire with each new season. A music critic for the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote of RCS’s performance of Ernest Bloch’s Avodath Hakodesh:
“Thank goodness community groups like the Richmond Choral Society are willing to take on repertory that professional ensembles lack the initiative or imagination to perform.”
RCS regularly partners with other nonprofit organizations to help support worthy causes in our community. Proceeds from our concerts have benefitted the William Byrd Community House, Children’s Hospital in Richmond, the Virginia Holocaust Museum, CARITAS and The Healing Place, Fan Free Clinic, the Byrd Theatre Foundation, and Central Virginia Food Bank, to name a few.
About Our Artistic Director
Markus J. Compton has been associated with the Richmond Choral Society since 2004. 2009-2010 is his inaugural season as Artistic Director after serving as accompanist for the past five years.
Holding degrees in Music Education and Piano Accompanying from George Mason University, Mr. Compton is no stranger to the music scene in metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Richmond. Before beginning his tenure with the Richmond Choral Society, Mr. Compton served as the Assistant Conductor and Pianist for the Fairfax Choral Society and Pianist for the National Men’s Chorus. He also worked as staff accompanist, vocal coach and lecturer at George Mason University. Mr. Compton has assisted such distinguished conductors as Anton Armstrong, Thomas Beveridge, Jerry Blackstone, Kevin Fenton, Joseph Martin, Don Neuen, Doreen Rao and Andre Thomas. He has performed at the National Gallery of Art, the White House and in a collaborative recital with Peter Schikele (PDQ Bach).
Currently, Mr. Compton is the Director of Music and Pianist at Hebron Presbyterian Church, in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. He oversees the Sanctuary and Youth choirs, as well as the ‘Music in the Countryside’ recital series. Mr. Compton also serves on the staff at Collegiate School where he teaches private piano.