About Us
Singers of Summerville is a choral group based in beautiful Summerville, South Carolina, made up of thirty to fifty musicians from the greater Charleston area.
About our group
Singers of Summerville presents 2-3 performances per year and is available for community events or special performances. Our members, ages 18-80, are a diverse group – teachers, musicians, medical professionals, attorneys, business leaders, retirees, and students – all sharing a passion for choral singing.
We are a non-profit organization, funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Our primary sources of financial support come from concert ticket sales, member dues, patrons, donors, sponsors, and grants. Entrance into the choir is obtained through competitive audition.
Artistic Director
to be announced
We would like to thank our former director, Ryan Pagels, for his passion and direction this past year and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. The Board of Directors is currently in the process of confirming a new Artistic Director. We will post an update very soon.
Dr. Valerie Bullock,
Past Artistic Director &
Conductor Emeritus,
2006-2020
Dr. Valerie Bullock is Professor Emeritus at Charleston Southern University, having retired June 30, 2016. At CSU she was Chair of the Horton School of Music, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, where she conducted the University Concert Singers and Bel Canto as well as coordinating choral music education. She received her Doctorate in Choral Music education from Florida State University and Master’s and Bachelor degrees from the University of South Carolina.
In addition to conducting the Singers of Summerville, she also served as the full-time Director of Music Ministries at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville from September 2016 until her retirement in September 2020. Dr. Bullock conducted the Bethany Chancel Choir, Chamber Singers, Men’s Ensemble, and Women’s Ensemble as well as overseeing the entire music program.
Dr. Bullock remains active as a consultant and adjudicator in the SC American Choral Directors Association and in 2022 was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ryan Pagels,
Past Artistic Director
& Conductor, 2024
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. He also served as Chorusmaster for the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and worked as a vocal coach at Stetson University for the voice studios and the Opera program.
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 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.
David A. Richardson,
Past Artistic Director
& Conductor,
2020 - 2023
David A. Richardson is a respected choral conductor, educator, singer, and keyboardist in the Charleston Tri-County area. The 2023-2024 school year will mark Mr. Richardson’s fifteenth year in Dorchester School District Two as Director of Choral Activities at Summerville High School. He taught in the Berkeley County School District as a band director prior to his tenure in DD2. Before becoming Director of Choral Activities at Summerville High School, he was director of Choral Activities at Rollings Middle School of the Arts and Fort Dorchester High School. His choirs at both Rollings and Fort Dorchester earned consistent superior ratings at festivals and adjudicated events and festivals. Mr. Richardson’s passion for choral music education reaches beyond the public school classroom as Adjunct Professor of Music Education at the College of Charleston, where he teaches courses in Elementary Music Methods, Secondary Music Methods, and Choral Literature.
Paul H. Fletcher,
Founding Director,
and conductor
2003 - 2006
Paul H. Fletcher founded and then directed the Singers of Summerville for three years. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he is Director of Music Ministries at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.
While in the Summerville area, Paul was a vocal Artist in Residence at Charleston Southern University (CSU) where, in addition to maintaining an active voice studio, he taught a course in music appreciation and directed the university’s men’s chorus, the Singing Buccaneers.
Prior to coming to CSU, he served seven years as the Director of Music Ministries at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville, where he directed and oversaw a music program of twelve ensembles. In addition to South Carolina, he has served in churches and colleges in Alabama, Texas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.