Music

Minister of Music Laura Ritter, a native of Morristown, TN, is excited to share the joy of praising God through music at First Baptist Greenville. A graduate of Furman University, she completed a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Illinois and done further graduate work at the University of Tennessee in Organ Performance. Laura loves singing with folks of all ages. She has taught college students at Anderson University, Clemson University and Walters State Community College and has founded two community choirs for children. Her current group, Young Voices of the Foothills, has locations in Seneca, Pendleton and Anderson. She has served various churches in her career, most recently serving as choir director and organist at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Seneca, SC.

Another passion of Laura’s is musical theater, and as a founding company member of Encore Theatrical Company, she has served as musical director for shows such as “Les Misérables,” “Little Women,” “Sunday in the Park with George,” and “Bright Star.” Since moving to the Upstate, Laura works with both Clemson Little Theatre and Centrestage..

“I can remember the first time I sang a hymn with my children’s choir at First Baptist Church of Morristown, TN. It was the hymn “When Morning Gilds the Skies” and it was the most glorious thing I had ever heard. I think I knew from that moment on that singing would always be an important part of my life and my faith journey.””

Laura and husband, Greg (who also sings!), live in Clemson and enjoy traveling and college sports. Their son, Cameron, and his wife, Madelyn, live in Raleigh, NC.

An active church musician throughout his career, Charles Tompkins returns to First Baptist as Organist in 2023, previously serving in the that role from 1997 to 2016. He has also served other churches in our area and as consultant for a number of outstanding organs, including Furman’s Hartness Organ, a 42-stop instrument by C.B. Fisk organ builders (Opus 121).

Charles Tompkins is recognized as one of America’s most outstanding organ teachers and concert organists. He is the Distinguished University Organist at Furman University, where he recently retired from full-time teaching. He continues to serve as Organ Accompanist for the Furman Singers and Chamber Choir and as Director of Furman’s Hartness Organ Recital Series.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester) and the University of Michigan, Tompkins is an active recitalist, performing at prestigious venues in both the United States and abroad every year. Recent international engagements have included recitals at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. He has performed at national and regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Music Teachers National Association, and the College Music Society. His performances have also been broadcast nationally on American Public Media’s PIPEDREAMS radio program.