Home

John Black

Organist – Pianist – Conductor

John Black is in demand as organist, pianist, and conductor. He is Director of Choral Activities and Lecturer in Music at Assumption University, where he conducts the University Chorale, and VOCE, an auditioned chamber ensemble. He also teaches applied organ and undergraduate conducting, and oversees the vocal scholarship program.

Dr. Black previously served as Assistant Conductor of the Providence Singers, a symphonic chorus which regularly collaborates with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. He served for nine years as Director of Music at Greenwood Church, where he conducted the semi-professional chancel choir, oversaw the youth and handbell ensembles, and conducted the fifty-voice Greenwood Concert Choir, which frequently performed with professional orchestra. He was also conductor of the Carillon Women’s Chorus and the Boston University Treble Chorus, and was assistant conductor of the BU Symphonic Chorus. He has assisted in preparing choirs for performances under Leonard Slatkin, Bramwell Tovey, Larry Rachleff, and Tanya Miller, including Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, Handel’s Messiah, Mahler’s Symphony no. 2, and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem.

Dr. Black is an active organ recitalist, delivering pinnacles of the repertoire including the Duruflé Toccata, the Reger Fantasy and Fugue on BACH, and the F Major Toccata and Fugue of J.S. Bach in solo performances across the United States. Collaborations include live concerts and album recordings with Ensemble Altera, recently traveling to Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, TX and St. Paul’s Choir School in Boston. He has also performed in orchestral collaborations at Boston’s Symphony Hall under Maestro James Burton, at Mechanics Hall for a studio recording, and at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter & Paul in Providence. Black served for ten years as pianist for the Rhode Island Children’s Chorus, has served as collaborative pianist for major works including the Requiems of Mozart, Verdi, Duruflé, and Brahms, and regularly performs with all-state and festival choirs throughout New England. He regularly appears as continuo artist, performing at the harpsichord and organ with early music ensembles, and leading workshops introducing children to historical keyboard instruments.

Black holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting at Boston University, studying under Dr. Daniel Parsley. He previously earned a Master of Sacred Music at BU, studying organ with Peter Sykes and sacred music with Andrew Shenton. A certified music educator for all grade levels, he earned a master’s degree in music education from Rhode Island College, where he also completed undergraduate studies as a piano major. He received a full scholarship to the Young Professional Artist Program of the Newport Music Festival, and was awarded a conducting fellowship for the University of Toronto choral conducting symposium.

Dr. Black resides in Rhode Island, with his wife, Olivia, a music educator, choral conductor, and soprano soloist. In addition to their musical endeavors, they are actively involved in Christian ministry, serving Faith Chapel where John is full-time pastor.