Music Ministry

The Ministry of Music at Second Presbyterian Church is about leading the congregation’s song–its hymns, responses, and liturgy–as choirs and congregation give musical wings to the Gospel. The Music Ministry is rooted in the vast treasury of old and new sacred art repertoire that unites strong, God-centered texts with well-crafted music. The Music Ministry of Second Church is an integral part of the congregation’s worship life and witness in downtown Richmond and beyond. There is a place here for anyone who desires to learn and grow, and to serve and praise God through music.

Adult Choir

Everyone who reads music and enjoys singing is welcome at Chancel Choir.


Sings at 11:00 am worship services, September through June. Rehearses Wednesdays, 7:30 to 9:15 pm; and Sunday mornings, 10:00 to 10:45 am

Adult Handbells
  • For senior high and adults with music reading skills

  • Plays for 11:00 am worship services

  • Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the sanctuary
  • 
Led by Jeff Michael Simpson

The Organs

The organ in the sanctuary was built by the Noack Organ Company of Georgetown, Massachusetts, and installed in 1996. It has two manuals and pedals, tracker action, and thirty stops. For full information and photograph, see Noack Organ and click on Opus 130.

The organ in the Chapel was built by the Von Beckerath Orgelbau of Hamburg, Germany, and installed in 1974. It has one manual and pedals, tracker action, and five stops, divided at middle C-C-sharp.

Music Staff

Jeffrey Riehl, Director of Music
               Email: jriehl@richmond.edu

Michael Simpson, Organist
               Email: 

Organist Appointed!

It is with great excitement and joy that we welcome Michael Simpson as the Organist and Handbell Director of Second Church. Michael is a gifted organist and a seasoned church musician who brings a rich variety of gifts to Second Church, including boundless energy and a wonderful sense of humor. Mike is a Richmond native who attended the University ofRichmond, from which he earned the BA degree with honors in music. While attending UR, he studied with several members of the music faculty who have strong ties to Second Church:  Suzanne Bunting, Bruce Stevens, and Catharine Kirby.

Mike was Organist and Minister of Music at Ginter Park Baptist Church for thirty-six years before being appointed Associate Director of Music at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in 2006. At St. Stephen’s Church he served as the primary organist/pianist for four weekly services, directed the youth and adult handbell choirs, directed a choir for children in the fourth and fifth grades, assisted in leading the Adult Choir, and developed the music repertoire for St. Stephen’s very popular evening Celtic worship services.

In addition to his work in the church, Mike is Accompanist and Associate Conductor of the Richmond Symphony Chorus and is the conductor of the Richmond Renaissance Singers. He was an adjunct faculty member at Virginia State University and the University of Richmond and worked part-time as an organ technician for the Lewis & Hitchcock Pipe Organ Company.Michael was the unanimous choice of the Organist Search Committee, which included Kathy Erhardt (chairperson), Marjorie Clarke, Cherry Peters, Bill Schutt, Alex Evans, and Jeff Riehl. Mike is eager to join the Second Church staff and to begin the transition from full-time to part-time employment that will allow him a slower pace of life and more time to devote to his mother. He will begin his ministry at Second Church on September 1st.


Music