Meet & Greet | Donald Anderson

I grew up in Ashland where my interest in church music began at a very young age. I was greatly influenced by my aunt Victoria who was the organist at my home church. She had a friend, Anne Williams, who was a well-known piano teacher in the Richmond area. She arranged for me to take lessons when I was nine. However, piano was not my major focus. I wanted to be an organist, so I worked very hard so that I could begin to study the organ at age 14 with Robert Johnson.  One year later, I got my first job playing at the local funeral home, and at age 16 I obtained my first church job at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Doswell. 

I attended Patrick Henry High School where I was the accompanist for the school choir and sang solos for other choral ensembles. After high school I knew that I was going to head toward a music profession. I completed my music training at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore studying organ with Cherry Rhodes; and at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond where I studied organ with Larry Robinson, and voice with Richard Rivers.

Music has been my greatest joy. When people ask what I do outside of work, I respond, “music,” which for me means going to concerts and visiting other church services. It's always nice to sit back and hear others perform and get ideas.

I spent nine years at Second Presbyterian Church, which was absolutely beautiful in architecture, had one of the best pipe organs in town, and had a wonderfully supportive congregation.  However, having worked in Episcopal churches before, I became homesick for the Episcopal Church. I had been baritone soloist and assistant organist at Grace and Holy Trinity, Richmond and I needed to get back to the Episcopalian liturgy. This is what led me to Redeemer, where I have been Director of Music since 1997.