Michael K. Ross

A native of Richmond, Michael Kenneth Ross is an accomplished pianist, organist, composer and arranger, who hails from Gilpin Court, a housing project located near downtown Richmond, Virginia. Further, in 1980, he began taking piano lessons through a sponsored by Friends. Immediately upon starting lessons, his gift quickly blossomed. Michael then began studying piano with retired, Richmond music teacher Mrs. Anne Harris Williams, with whom he studied for roughly eight (8) years. Michael was the recipient of the prestigious Evelyn and Allen Stein Music Scholarship offered by the Community School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) that provided him with private piano and theory lessons from VCU music professors while attending Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond. While enrolled, Michael studied with renowned pianist Dr. Landon Bilyeu. Also, while in high school, he performed in several theatrical productions at Richmond’s Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, Mosque (now the Landmark Theater) and Dogwell Dell. He is a VCU graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. Presently, Michael serves as a volunteer, piano instructor at Friends and considers it as a minute way to give back to the agency that has been a beacon in his personal, artistic and professional development. His musical compositions and arrangements have been presented and performed at acclaimed music workshops and conventions throughout the country including the Disciples of Christ National Convocation (St. Louis, MO), National Baptist Convention (Detroit, MI), Lott Carey Foreign Missions Convention (Pittsburg, PA), Ridgecraft Convention (Asheville, NC) and the Hampton Ministries Ministers’ Conference and Organist Guild, where his composition “God Is Making a Way,” was performed by a 1500-member choir while at the tender age of 21. He has accompanied several musical groups throughout the Richmond area including the Celebration Male Chorus and the African American Heritage Singers. Two of his hymn compositions, “A Glorious Introit” and “Give Your Life to Christ” are featured in GIA Publications’ “African American Heritage Hymnal.” His musical gift has been recognized and invited by both local and national gospel and sacred music artists. Michael is the accompanist at Fifth Street Baptist Church in Richmond, where he serves as the church organist/pianist and director of the Janie P. Hill Women’s Chorus.