Singers of Summerville Announce New Artistic Director for their 20th Anniversary Season!

Singers of Summerville is pleased to announce our new Artistic Director, Ryan Pagels. We are very excited to have Ryan leading us for the first time in our 20^th anniversary concert on Sunday April 28, 2024, at 3:00 pm, entitled “Sentimental Journey.” This anniversary concert will be at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville, SC. Former directors Paul Fletcher, Dr. Valerie Bullock and David Richardson will be sharing the podium with Mr. Pagels as they guide us through this “Sentimental Journey” of the past twenty years of Singers of Summerville performances.  A reception and silent auction will immediately follow at the Timrod Library across the street.  You don’t want to miss this historic event!

Now for more about our new Artistic Director. Ryan Pagels is a highly sought after conductor, composer, and pianist, and is currently serving as the Director of Music at the Unitarian Church of Charleston. Before moving to Charleston, Ryan was the Director of Music at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Interim and then Assistant Artistic Director for the Cumberland Choral Arts, and Collaborative Pianist at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC. Before Fayetteville, Ryan resided in Florida where he served as the Artistic Director and Conductor for the Marion Civic Chorale, Director of Music at Countryside Presbyterian Church, and as Chorusmaster for the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. He also served as the Resident Music Director at the Ocala Civic Theatre and directed throughout Central Florida ranging from community to professional and equity productions.

In 2010, Ryan made his Carnegie Hall debut, collaborated on recitals with faculty from Julliard, and was the pianist for the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games. In 2011, he made his international debut, concertizing in Italy as part of the Orfeo Music Festival. Ryan has been invited as a guest artist and to give masterclasses throughout the U.S. and has also worked and concertized with a wide variety of musicians, including Audra McDonald, Marvin Hamlisch, Arlo Guthrie, and Wynonna Judd. In 2023, Ryan returned to Carnegie Hall to premiere the “Twilight Mass,” by Ola Gjelio, and has also premiered works by Eric Whitacre and John Tichelli.

For more information on our 20^th Anniversary Concert, our new Artistic Director Ryan Pagels, or any other Singers of Summerville programs/events, please contact:

Sharon Napoleone, VP of Marketing
Singers of Summerville Board of Directors
Phone: 203-482-7889
email:  singersofsummerville21@gmail.com 

Additional Information: Singers of Summerville is a choral group based in beautiful Summerville, South Carolina. We strive to present the very best sacred and secular music from the past to the present to bring joy, transform lives, and nourish the soul of the greater Summerville community. Made up of thirty to fifty musicians from the greater Charleston area, we present 2-3 performances per year in addition to community events and special performances. Our concerts range from Opera to Broadway, Classical to Pops, and include commissioned works by contemporary composers.

Website  singersofsummerville.org
Email   singersofsummerville21@gmail.com
Music Director: Ryan Pagels, pianist.pagels@gmail.com