Lessons and Carols
Sunday, November 30, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
Join us for a Service of Lessons and Carols for the first Sunday of Advent. Admission FREE; a freewill offering will be collected.
For more information, please visit http://www.faithchapelri.org.
Sounds of the Season
Friday, November 21, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
The Assumption University Chorale and the VOCE chamber choir present Sounds of the Season in Curtis Performance Hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The program includes seasonal carols and choral works ranging from chant to contemporary composers.
Admission is FREE. John Black, Director of Choral Activities; Brett Maguire, Pianist.
Sponsored by the Assumption University Department of Art & Music.
Fauré Requiem
Friday, April 24, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
The Assumption University Chorale and the VOCE chamber choir present a spring concert in the Curtis Performance Hall of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The varied repertoire features the Requiem, op. 38 of Gabriel Fauré. Admission is FREE.
John Black, Director of Choral Activities; Brett Maguire, Accompanist.
Sponsored by the Assumption University Department of Art & Music.
Mozart Vespers
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
The Assumption University Chorale and the VOCE chamber choir present a spring concert in the Curtis Performance Hall of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The varied repertoire features the Vesperae solennes de confessore, K. 339 of W.A. Mozart.
Admission is FREE.
John Black, Director of Choral Activities; Brett Maguire, Accompanist.
Sponsored by the Assumption University Department of Art & Music.
Duruflé Requiem
May 17-18, 2025
John Black joins the RI Civic Chorale and Orchestra as organist for a concert featuring the Requiems of Duruflé and Howells at First Baptist Church in Worcester, MA, and Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, RI.
Connecticut Music Educators’ Association
Spring, 2025
John Black appears as pianist with festival choirs for the Connecticut Music Educators’ Association under the batons of conductors Dr. Kevin Dibble and Mrs. Olivia Black.
Assumption University Choirs
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
The Assumption University Chorale and the VOCE chamber choir present Sounds of the Season on Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. In Curtis Performance Hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The program includes selections from Handel’s Messiah, seasonal carols, and choral works ranging from chant to contemporary composers.
Admission is FREE. John Black, Director of Choral Activities; Brett Maguire, Pianist.
ORGAN RECITAL: American Guild of Organists, New London Chapter
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
John Black performs an All Saints’ Day solo recital on the four-manual M.P. Moller organ of St. James Episcopal Church in New London, Connecticut. The eclectic program includes organ works of Bach, Boëllmann, Reger, and a set of sacred favorites from soprano Olivia Black.
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony:
A 200-Year Perspective
Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 7:00 p.m., Tsai Performance Center, Boston University
The Beethoven Institute at Boston University offers an all-day conference celebrating two-hundred years of Beethoven’s landmark ninth symphony. The day concludes with a performance of Liszt’s extraordinary piano transcription of the symphony, performed by pianist Chengcheng Ma, with chorus, John Black, conducting.
Church of the Incarnation, Dallas
Friday, March 8, 2024
John Black joins Ensemble Altera as organist for The Lamb’s Journey, a choral depiction of the story of Christ bridging works from Gibbons to Barber. Directed by celebrated countertenor Christopher Lowrey, the ensemble was founded to be the beating heart of professional choral music in the United States.
Symphony Hall: Elgar and RVW
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Symphony Hall, Boston
The BU Symphony Orchestra performs Edward Elgar’s “Enigma” Variations and is joined by the BU Symphonic Chorus for the magnificent “Dona Nobis Pacem” of Ralph Vaughan Williams at Boston’s Symphony Hall under Maestro James Burton and chorus master Dr. Daniel Parsley. John Black joins the orchestra on the famous Foley-Baker organ and serves as assistant conductor of the chorus.
Enchanté: Nadia and Lili Boulanger meet Francis Poulenc
Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, 2024
Nadia Boulanger’s career trajectory was cut short by the deaths of her biggest cheerleaders; her partner, and later her younger sister, Lili, who died aged just 24. Nadia carved out a niche for herself as perhaps the most legendary teacher of musicians. The spring concert of Sine Nomine, conducted by Michael Galib, will feature the Boulangers’ music, as well as Poulenc’s brilliant, rustic, yet devilishly tricky Chansons françaises. Honoring the tradition of musical salons at the Boulanger home, the choir will be joined by visiting friends and guest musicians as the music oscillates between the mighty and the delicate of the stylish 20th-century French musical canon.
John and Olivia Black will perform arias for soprano voice and piano, and a special organ “postlude” of Louis Vierne.
CMEA All-State Treble Chorus
April 4-April 6, 2024, Connecticut Convention Center
Dr. Jamie Hillman, Conductor
John Black, Collaborative Pianist
Greenwood Concert Choir
Saturday, May 19, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
John Black conducts the Greenwood Concert Choir and professional instrumentalists for an afternoon of favorite hymns ranging from Fanny Crosby to Keith Getty. Meditations will be given and selections will also be offered by Greenwood’s youth and handbell choirs. Join us for an uplifting, spiritually nurturing hour of worship through music. FREE admission.
Bach Cantata: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben
Sunday, December 9, 2023, 2:00 p.m.
2023 marks the 300th anniversary of the work now commonly known as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” John Black conducts the Greenwood Concert Choir in a program of Christmas favorites for choir and handbells, in addition to the full cantata of J.S. Bach, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben,” BWV 147, including this famous chorale fantasia. The cantata will feature professional soloists, accompanied by harpsichord and strings. FREE admission.
Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
Sunday, December 10, 2023
John Black and Daniel Reid conduct the Boston University Treble Chorus in a program featuring Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols.”
Mozart Requiem
Sunday, December 3, 2023
Dr. Daniel Parsley conducts the BU Symphonic Chorus and orchestra. John Black is assistant conductor and leads the full ensemble in performance of a Mozart motet.
Monteverdi Magnificat
Sunday and Sunday, November 4-5, 2023
After a sparkling opener by Peter Philips, the concert progresses into the dreary realm of grief, shifts to a mother’s comfort, and resoundingly concludes with the Magnificat from the Vespers of 1610.
Carillon Women’s Chorus
Sunday, November 26, 2023
John Black conducts this auditioned women’s choral ensemble in a program of seasonal favorites.
Ensemble Altera
Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20, 2023
John Black joins Ensemble Altera as organist for a program of Tallis, Howells, Whitacre, Wood, and more. Led by Christopher Lowrey, the ensemble includes artists from Voces8, Tenebrae, and The Gesualdo Six.
Click here to view PDF program
Chamber Music at Edgewood
Sunday, June 25, 2023
John & Olivia Black and Alexandra Nichols perform a program of German chamber music for piano, violin, and soprano voice. The program features sonatas of Beethoven and Mozart, art songs of Schumann and Schubert, and other instrumental favorites.
God Bless America: Choir and Brass
Sunday, June 4, 2023, 3:00 p.m. at Greenwood Church, Warwick, RI
The Greenwood Concert Choir and the Greenwich Bay Brass perform a program of Patriotic music and grand hymns in prayer for the spiritual health of our nation.
Mahler, Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection”
Saturday, April 1, 2023 at Symphony Hall, Boston
The BU Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus perform Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony at Boston’s Symphony Hall under Maestro James Burton and chorus master Dr. William Cutter. John Black joins the orchestra on the famous Foley-Baker organ and serves as assistant conductor of the chorus.
Boston University Treble Chorus
Friday, February 17, 2023 at the BU CFA Concert Hall
John Black conducts the auditioned Boston University Treble Chorus in a program featuring Schumann songs, folk song settings of Ralph Vaughan Williams, opera choruses, and contemporary works for four-part treble voices and instrumentalists. This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting.
Duruflé Requiem
Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, 2023
John Black performs on the four-manual, two-hundred stop organ of Grace Church as the Providence Singers present the Duruflé Requiem and Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb” conducted by Christine Noel and joined by the Aurea Ensemble. The program also includes several shorter works for which Black will perform with the Singers as pianist.
Haydn, Creation
October 30, 2022, 3:00pm at Grace Church, Providence, RI
Join the Providence Singers and professional orchestra for a performance of The Creation, Joseph Haydn’s choral masterwork. Soloists: Maggie Finnegan, soprano; Brad Kleyla and Travis Benoit, tenors; Nicholas Laroche, baritone. Christine Noel conducts. John Black is assistant conductor and will perform at the replica Anton Walter fortepiano.
Click here for information on the instrument.
Handel, Messiah
December 4, 2022, 3:00pm
John Black appears as harpsichordist for Handel’s Messiah with the RI Civic Chorale and professional orchestra.
Boston University Singers
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 7:30 p.m. at the BU CFA Concert Hall
John Black will conduct the Paul Hindemith 6 Chansons for a cappella mixed chorus as the Boston University Singers mixed and treble choirs perform works by Biebl, Perucona, Elgar, Finzi, Gjeilo, Rahman, Shan-Hua, Davidson, Robinovitch, and Ramsey conducted by Dr. Mariah Wilson. Free and open to the public.
Opera Choruses
Sunday, November 20, 2022 at the BU CFA Concert Hall
The Boston University Symphonic Chorus performs an exciting program of famous opera choruses, conducted by Dr. Mariah Wilson and assistant conductor John Black. Works of Verdi, Puccini, Handel, Smyth, and others.
Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at Greenwood Church, Warwick, RI
John Black conducts the Greenwood Concert Choir, Greenwood’s Youth and Handbell choirs, and the professional Greenwood Choral Scholars in an hour-long program of carols and choral masterworks celebrating the Christmas season.
RI Children’s Chorus and High School Honor Choir
Saturdays, December 10 & 17, 2022 at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter & Paul, Providence, RI
John Black appears as organist and pianist with the RI Children’s Chorus and High School Honor Choir conducted by Dr. Christine Noel. Seasonal favorites and a variety of choral works will be performed by the auditioned choirs of students from elementary through high school, accompanied by the largest mechanical action organ in North America.
Harpsichord Recital
Sunday, July 31, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at Greenwood Church, Warwick, RI
John Black performs the dedication recital for the two-manual Zuckermann harpsichord of Greenwood Church, in memory of benefactors David and Nancy Dickerman. The program includes classical works of Baroque Germany and France for harpsichord, soprano solo, violin, and flute. The builder of the instrument, Dr. Paul Abrahams, will be present as the instrument is demonstrated to the congregation. Admission is free.
ORGAN RECITAL: Marsh Chapel, Boston University
Monday, April 25, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
John Black performs works of Bach, Duruflé, Gigout, and Vierne on the Casavant Opus 2000 organ of Marsh Chapel at Boston University. The hour-long program includes some of the most difficult pieces in the organ repertoire, including the Bach F Major Toccata and Fugue and the Duruflé Toccata. The recital is free and open to the public, offered in-person only.
Click here for more information on the pipe organ of Marsh Chapel: https://www.bu.edu/chapel/music/organs/.
RICC Chamber Chorus
Saturday, May 14, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
The Chamber Chorus offers advanced training in vocal technique and musicianship for sopranos and altos. The repertoire includes challenging works (in three- and four-part harmony) in multiple languages from different periods in music history. This advanced women’s chorus serves as the touring choir for special events and invitational concerts.
RI Civic Chorale & Orchestra
Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.
A brilliant program built around Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, featuring American composers and Rhode Island premieres of works such as Nature Has a Thousand Choirs and Soft Blink of Amber Light.
John Black joins the orchestra as pianist for Appalachian Spring, Michael Foumai’s Concerto Grosso, and a suite by Libby Larsen.
The Greenwood Concert Choir
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.
John Black conducts the Greenwood Concert Choir in an afternoon of festival hymns and choral works celebrating the resurrection. Enjoy grand, joyful settings of favorite hymns and special offerings from Greenwood’s Handbell Choir, Youth Choir, and instrumentalists. Free admission; freewill offering collected.
In person ONLY. Video recording available upon request by emailing music@gccp.org.
Providence Singers: Broadway Favorites
Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.
Join the Providence Singers for a Sunday afternoon concert of Broadway favorites. Selections from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, West Side Story, and more. Soloists include internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Kevin Deas and tenor Brad Kleyla. The Singers will be joined by dancers from the State Ballet of Rhode Island.
John Black will perform at the piano with the Singers. The program includes the debut of his arrangement of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Music of the Night” for SATB choir and baritone soloist.
A Festival of Carols
Sunday, December 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
The Greenwood Concert Choir presents an afternoon of carols accompanied by the Greenwich Bay Brass ensemble. Enjoy grand, joyful settings of favorite Christmas hymns and special offerings from our Handbell Choir, Youth Choir, and instrumentalists. Admission free; freewill offering collected. In person ONLY. Video recording available upon request by emailing music@gccp.org.
Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul: Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem
Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
The German Requiem of Johannes Brahms contains some of the most beautiful and beloved melodies in choral music. “How Lovely is They Dwelling Place,” perhaps the most familiar movement, captures the sense of peace and comfort that is at the heart of this work.
The Requiem will be performed by the Providence Singers, accompanied by John Black on the Cathedral’s four-manual Casavant mechanical action organ. Dr. Christine Noel conducting. Baritone and soprano soloists to be announced.
The concert is free, but please register now to reserve your seat: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brahms-requiem-tickets-158637351589
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT: Schumann and Friends
Sunday, August 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of German Romantic masterworks for string quartet, piano, and soloists. Featuring Schumann’s thrilling Piano Quintet in E-Flat Major, Brahms lieder for soprano voice, and other exciting works for string quartet and soloists. FREE admission; freewill offering collected for Greenwood’s ministry of music.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross: 145th Anniversary Organ Fundraiser
BOSTON — The Cathedral of the Holy Cross celebrates the 145th year since the dedication of its principal organ, the 101-rank E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings opus 801, on February 23, 1876.
To honor the instrument’s birthday, several of New England’s notable organists will perform variety of works by on the historic pipe organ of 5,318 pipes.
Performers include Dr. Bridgette Wargovich, Corpus Christi Parish, Leo Abbott, Cathedral Director Emeritus, Maks Adach, Associate Director of St. Paul’s Choir School, John Black, Director of Music, Greenwood Church, and Richard J. Clark, Director of Music of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross with Richard Kelley, trumpet.
Works by Dupré, Vierne, Pott, Reger, and Clark
SOLO RECITAL: First Presbyterian Church, Pompano Beach
Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
John Black performs works of Bach, Karg-Elert, Mendelssohn, and Reger on the four manual 1960 Schantz organ of the First Presbyterian Church, Pompano Beach, Florida – “The Pink Church.” Experience powerful expressions of grandeur and beloved familiar melodies.
Click here for more information on the pipe organs of the Pink Church: https://www.thepinkchurch.org/pipe-organs/
SOLO RECITAL: Cathedral of the Holy Cross
John Black performs a recital of German Romantic organ works on the 1877 Hook and Hastings organ of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL RECITAL
SOLO RECITAL: Nun Danket Alle Gott
Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
Greenwood Church – 805 Main Avenue, Warwick , RI
John Black performs works of Bach, Karg-Elert, Mendelssohn, and Reger. Experience powerful expressions of grandeur and beloved familiar melodies. Free admission; freewill offering collected to benefit Greenwood’s ministry of music.
John Black 
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