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John Black

Organist – Pianist – Conductor

John Black is in demand as organist, pianist, conductor, and collaborative artist, with recent recitals spanning from Boston to Florida. Mr. Black is the Director of Music at Greenwood Church, where he conducts the semi-professional chancel choir, leads the youth and handbell choirs, and serves as principal organist. He is earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting from Boston University, where he is Assistant Conductor of the Symphonic Chorus, and Teaching Assistant of the BU Singers and graduate conducting seminar. Mr. Black was an organ student of Peter Sykes at BU, graduating summa cum laude with a master’s degree in sacred music. 

Mr. Black founded and conducts the fifty-voice Greenwood Concert Choir for the Music at Greenwood community concert series, frequently with professional orchestra. He also conducts the Carillon Women’s Chorus, an auditioned ensemble based in northern Rhode Island. Mr. Black has served as Assistant Conductor of the Providence Singers, a symphonic chorus which regularly collaborates with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, recently conducting rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in preparation for performances with the RI Philharmonic. In addition to his conducting responsibilities, Mr. Black has presented workshops in music theory, served as guest clinician in sight-singing for the Young Men’s Choral Festival, and was commissioned to create several carol arrangements for publication. His arrangement of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music of the Night was premiered by the Singers in 2022, with choreography by the State Ballet of Rhode Island. 

Mr. Black performs extensively as collaborative artist with premiere ensembles in southern New England, recently appearing with Ensemble Altera, the RI Civic Chorale & Orchestra, and Sine Nomine. He has performed in the Newport Music Festival, where he was awarded a full scholarship for the inaugural season of the festival’s Young Professional Artist Program. He served as principal pianist and organist of the Rhode Island Children’s Chorus, with which he has performed at the Rhode Island Convention Center, the Ballroom of the Providence Biltmore, the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, and on the famed “Worcester Organ” at Mechanics Hall. For ten consecutive seasons, Mr. Black served as resident pianist at the Newport Mansions during the Christmas season, performing as soloist and conducting choral performances at The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House for nearly a thousand attendees each evening. 

Mr. Black is passionate about teaching music, and enjoys introducing young people to historic keyboard instruments, regularly offering workshops and classes for children. He holds a master’s degree in music education from Rhode Island College, where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in music as a piano major. Besides performing as organist, pianist, and conductor, Mr. Black has a passion for creating inspirational worship through music, and enjoys crafting choral compositions and arrangements. His wife, Olivia, is a music educator and vocalist, and the two enjoy collaborating on projects together.