Dr. Raymond F. Freeman
From 1986 to 2015, Dr. Raymond F. Freeman served as accompanist to the Northern Virginia Chorale. An accomplished pianist, organist, and cellist, he has performed in the Northern Virginia area for over forty years. Dr. Freeman acted as church organist at Resurrection Lutheran, Arlington Methodist, and Kirkwood Presbyterian churches, and has appeared as guest artist at Arlington Forest Methodist Church. As a cellist, he performed with the American Light Opera Company and the Arlington Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Freeman has also served as accompanist to the Ron Freeman Chorale, and is currently the organist at Grace Presbyterian Church, Springfield.
Dr. Freeman has also been an accompanist for the Chorale’s Outreach singers, who travel to local nursing facilities, performing for people who cannot make it to our concerts. In addition to his career in music, Dr. Freeman is by training and profession a scientist, holding a Ph.D. degree in theoretical physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and having worked for many years in research and development for the U.S. government.
As accompanist to the Northern Virginia Chorale, Dr. Freeman has had a tremendous influence on innumerable singers over the years. He has traveled with the group to France and Italy, accompanied the choir solo and as part of orchestral ensembles, and demonstrated artistry and sheer professionalism through many, many weekly rehearsals.
Dr. Freeman retired from the post of accompanist at the end of the Chorale’s 39th season. In grateful acknowledgment of his service, the Northern Virginia Chorale established the Dr. Raymond Freeman Choral Scholarship. This Scholarship was available to Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale Campus) music majors who sang with the Chorale. Recipients were selected by the director from the applicants each semester. Dr. Freeman made the first presentation of the scholarship at the Chorale’s 2015 Holiday Concert.
