Artistic Staff

Peter Hopkins, Music Director

The Reading Choral Society is very proud to have Mr. Peter Hopkins as its Music Director. Hopkins is currently the director of Music Ministry and Choirmaster at St. Peter’s Church, Third and Pine Streets, Philadelphia. He conducts the adult and children’s choirs, and oversees the music ministry. All of the St. Peter’s choirs train and sing under cathedral style standards.

Prior to moving to Philadelphia three years ago, Hopkins served as conductor of the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, the Michigan Bach Collegium, the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys, and the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus. He has led performances running the gamut of choral literature; from plainsong and renaissance motets through the major oratorio literature for chorus and orchestra as well as symphonies and concerti.

Every summer Mr. Hopkins prepares the professional chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival as Assistant Chorusmaster. Peter Hopkins is equally comfortable directing instrumentalists as well as singers, and enjoys working with a combination of amateurs and professionals. His doctoral studies were done at Michigan State University as well as in England and Germany. He is a student of famed conductor Helmuth Rilling, working with him since 1985, and is the only American to guest conduct Rilling’s Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart.

Hopkins is a lyric tenor of professional quality and an experienced voice teacher. Along with playing the piano, harpsichord and organ he frequently performs as a continuo player.