Joseph Marcus Ritchie (born 1946 in Elizabethton; †21 August 1989 in Washington D.C.[1]) was an American organist, choirmaster and composer.
[2] His principal organ teachers were Ruth Fuque Stout during high school,[3] Harold G. Andrews at Greensboro College[4] and Grigg T. Fountain at Northwestern University.
[11] He also managed the concert series for the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Atlanta[3] In 1986 he succeeded Paul Calloway at St Paul's Episcopal Church (K Street) in Washington, D.C..[6] His Washington debut as a recitalist had already taken place in March 1979 at National City Christian Church.
A memorial fund was inaugurated, which enabled the parish to offer several organ recitals in honor of its late organist, e.g. by John Obetz in 1992.
In addition to this, Ritchie composed several Anglican chants, especially the one for Psalm 98 is used in various US Episcopal parishes in the Anglo-Catholic tradition.