Charles Staples

Charles Staples

Director of Music Ministries

Dr. Charles Staples has been Director of Music Ministries at Trinity since 1991 and has led its choirs
and ensembles in worship and in concerts for nearly 3 decades. Aside from its yearly services of
Lessons and Carols, the choir has performed numerous major choral works and has even participated in
a concert in Carnegie Hall under John Rutter.

charles staples at a piano

With his doctorate in piano performance, his playing has been described in the Richmond Times-Dispatch as “forceful…but unforced, as natural as breathing.” A native of Alabama and honors graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Staples won the Van Cliburn full tuition scholarship to the Cincinnati College-Conservatory and completed his graduate work at Stony Brook University, training under David Bar-Illan, Martin Canin and Bernard Greenhouse. Aside from solo and chamber performances too numerous to count, Staples has been soloist in concertos with the Richmond Symphony as well as the CCM Concert Orchestra, the Congress of Strings, the North Carolina Symphony and University of Richmond Orchestra. He recently made his 6th appearance with the Richmond Philharmonic playing the Rachmaninoff 2nd concerto. He has also performed recitals in New York’s Town Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and in live broadcasts and concerts on WGUC (Cincinnati), WQXR (NYC) and VPM in Richmond.

He teaches on the piano faculties of VCU and the Greenspring International Academy of Music. [He] “proved yesterday to be fully up to the technical and expressive demands of the Rachmaninoff concerto … the pianist lifted more than 300 listeners out of their seats in a cheering ovation after a performance that was both bravura and lyrically sensitized.”

Aaron Miller

Aaron currently serves as Trinity’s music director and as an associate pastor. He is projected to graduate May 2024 with a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC.

Aaron has over 15 years of ministry experience, serving several United Methodist congregations as a church musician, as a worship planner and leader, and as a communications director. Aaron has also enjoyed participating in small group ministries and leading class meetings.

In his free time, Aaron enjoys reading, writing, exploring nature, visiting historic towns, playing with his baby boy, going for walks with his wife Brandy, and spending quality time with family. He especially enjoys the study of history, theology, music, and culture.

Aaron is inspired by a vision of the local church that is both deeply rooted in the riches of Christian tradition and yet creative and innovative in reaching a new generation of disciples.

Laura Candler-White

Organist Laura Candler White is a Richmond native, and has been involved in the music scene for many years. She began her career in public education – teaching high school choral music for eleven years before moving on to being an adjunct instructor at VCU. While at VCU, she taught keyboard skills and was accompanist for instrumentalists and the college choirs. Additionally she played for the School of the Richmond Ballet and the dance classes at University of Richmond and VCU. Involvement in choral music has taken her to many exciting venues, both in the US and abroad.

Church music is her great love – when frequently asked what her favorite instrument is, that’s an easy answer:
the singing congregation! She has served in most denominations, both Protestant and Catholic and for many years was the assistant organist at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond. She believes that music should enhance the worship service and is honored to be a part of the Trinity music staff.

Bill Pike

Director of Operations

bill pike headshot

As director of operations, Bill says he knows just enough about the church’s building and grounds to be dangerous. This includes empty encounters with the Wesley brothers who ride the church’s elevators. Bill and his wife, Betsy, have three grown children and three grandchildren with a fourth on the way. His hobbies include reading, yardwork, writing, and learning from his grandchildren.