Announcing our New Music Director, Robert Baird!

Greetings!

I am humbled and honored to introduce myself as the new Music Director and Organist at St. James’ Episcopal Church. I am truly excited to join you and to “continue the work of making all things new in God’s love.”

The Rev. Ben Maas asked that I tell you a little bit about myself and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so. I am a husband to my wife, Kendall, and a father to our two year old son, Maddox. I consider my family to be my greatest blessing. Kendall and I met in Blacksburg at Virginia Tech and are proud Hokies; we will do our best to be sensitive to Father Ben and the other UVA Wahoos during the upcoming football season and beyond.

I am a graduate student in Organ Performance with a focus in Sacred Music at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University studying under Professor John Walker, Immediate Past President of the American Guild of Organists. Over the years I have served as a Minister of Music and Organist/Accompanist for many congregations, however my most recent post, where I’ve served for the last five years, was as the Organist/Assistant Director of Traditional Music at Fredericksburg United Methodist, a large membership Church of around 2,500 members located in downtown Fredericksburg, VA.

A lifelong Christian, I grew up attending the historic Pohick Episcopal Church (former home Church of our mutual previous spiritual leader Rev. Lyn Youll Marshall!), where I was nurtured in faith and as a musician inspired by the wonderful community that surrounded me. At Pohick, I studied organ and choral music with Linda Egan, retired Minister of Music and Organist, and have more recently continued my education with Dr. Elizabeth Melcher Davis, Music Director and Organist at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal in Richmond, VA. In addition to my graduate study at the Johns Hopkins University, I am likewise completing a graduate certificate program in Sacred Music through the Shenandoah Conservatory.

I want to say again how ecstatic I am to join you at St. James’ and to contribute to your long tradition of spiritual and musical excellence. I consider this opportunity and my vocation a calling, and I hope that my passion for the Church and music as a means for giving glory to God are a welcome foundation for my service to you and the work we can do together. I am so looking forward to this new season and getting to know all of you.

I am not at all above a shameless plug: if you are interested in joining the Choir or helping with the Music Ministry in any way, in particular with the re-development of other groups such as Handbell Choirs, Children’s/Youth Choirs and Handbell Programs, and even Contemporary Musical Worship, please reach out to me! I am always grateful for the opportunity to share in ministry with new and seasoned musicians alike.

Grace and Peace,

Robert Baird

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