A new director of music
During a recent visit to St. Stephen’s, Robert led rehearsals of the choristers, St. Stephen’s Choir, and Sanctuary, our Compline choir. He also met with parish staff and members of the search committee. Throughout the whirlwind visit, Robert demonstrated an infectious energy and an outgoing personality, balanced by a genuine curiosity and thoughtfulness about what makes our music ministry unique. He had admired the strength and diversity of our music program from afar, and he is excited about being part of a collaborative team that brings that music to life.
Robert has more than 25 years’ experience as a church musician. He serves as director of music at Church of the Good Shepherd in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where his husband, the Rev. Kyle Babin, is rector. Previously, Robert was organist and choirmaster at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Philadelphia; director of music at St. Paul’s Parish, K Street in Washington, D.C.; organist and director of music at St. Mary the Virgin in New York City; and assistant organist at Trinity Church, Princeton. He is sought after as a concert organist, workshop leader, choral clinician, and teacher of organ improvisation. Robert graduated from Westminster Choir College summa cum laude.
“I am overjoyed to have been appointed as St. Stephen’s new director of music,” he says. “I wasn’t looking for a new position just yet, thinking any such move would be a few years down the road. Yet when I saw the St. Stephen’s job posting, a church I had visited before and have known of for years, something told me I ought to apply.”
Of his visit to St. Stephen’s, he said, “Everyone was so warm, welcoming, friendly, and committed, and I realized that it would be an enormous privilege to join such a strong and inspiring community. I very much look forward to taking my place among you and to share in your vibrant and broad array of worship, formation for all ages, and ministry.”
Since the program year is already underway we will need to wait a bit for Robert’s arrival as he finishes the fall in his current post and puts an interim plan in place for his departure. His first day with us will be Monday, January 26. Robert says that his husband Kyle plans to join him in Richmond with their cocker spaniel, Beau, a short time after Robert moves here.
We are fortunate to have Diana Chou and Chris Edwards tending beautifully to our music ministry, with talented organists filling in as needed. We are also blessed to have Jeff Riehl scheduled to continue leading Compline through the fall, and to have Paul Honaker continuing as our handbell choir director.
“I am so grateful to the members of the committee that helped host visits and navigate this process,” said the Rev. John Rohrs, “and of course I am grateful to Diana and Chris, Jeff and Paul for their faithful and dedicated leadership during these months of transition. Most of all, I am grateful to Robert for taking this leap and joining us at St. Stephen’s. Robert is enormously talented as an organist and conductor, and even more than that he is a person of deep faith, collegiality, and sincerity. His references all spoke so movingly about the impact he has had on their lives and on the congregations they served together. I look forward to sharing in ministry with him for years to come.”