Leadership - Our Music Ministers
Professional and volunteer musicians provide leadership and direction to our music ministry, by playing instruments, leading groups of singers or instrumentalists, by teaching and helping others be better liturgical musicians.
Saint Bridget Parish, being a large, diverse and busy church, has a large, diverse and busy music ministry. Organists, pianists and cantors provide musical leadership for our liturgies, along with choirs and instrumental ensembles. Many of the Music Ministry leadership you see here are volunteers who give many hours of effort to lead and inspire the congregation in worship.
Music Minister, Allen Bean
Allen Bean has been Music Minister for Saint Bridget since October 2005. He is the primary organist for parish liturgies. Allen is responsible for all liturgical music in the parish, and directs the Parish Adult Choir, the Girl & Boy Choirs, and The Gentlemen of Saint Bridget. Before coming to Saint Bridget, he was Director of Music at Good Shepherd Episcopal here in Richmond, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Florida. He has served in leadership positions with the American Guild of Organists, the Museum District Neighborhood Association, and The Yale Club of Central Virginia. He holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and Yale University and was an International Exchange Scholar to Manchester University in England, 1982-83.
Contact: abean@saintbridgetchurch.org
(804) 292-9511
Music Administrator, Louise Gallagher
Contact: musiccoordinator@saintbridgetchurch.org
(804) 282-9511
Pianist, Brian Haney
Brian Haney has been a pianist with the Contemporary Music Ensemble since 2005. Before coming to St. Bridget, Brian was a pianist with the Youth Choir and Gospel Choir at Holy Family Catholic Church in Dale City, Virginia. Brian’s wife, Liz, sings with the Contemporary Music Ensemble as well. The Haneys have two children, John and Tess. Brian works at Kinsale Insurance Company as an actuary. He can be reached at.
Contact: BHaney70@live.com
(804) 517-9700
Accompanist, Wei-Li Suen
Wei-Li Suen is an active performer, teacher, and collaborator in the Richmond community. He plays for the Girls & Boys Choirs at Saint Bridget. He also plays for the Palmer Hall services at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and works with music students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Wei-Li has won first prize in competitions including the Chopin Competition at Columbia University, the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition, and the Harold Protsman Classical Piano Competition. He has appeared as soloist with the VCU and JMU Symphonies, and has performed in venues across the U.S. including Carnegie and Steinway Halls in New York. He holds degrees from VCU, where he studied with Dmitri Shteinberg, and the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Nina Svetlanova and was a member of the Columbia Classical Performers 2011-2013.
Pianist, Darius Yazdgerdi