Collaborative Pianist
Christian Black is the Minister of Music at St. Raymond’s Church in Providence, RI, where she oversees the music program and serves as organist, pianist, choir director, and cantor. She is also the director of the Greater Tiverton Community Chorus,
a fifty-voice ensemble based out of Tiverton, RI and Westport, MA.
Christian graduated from Rhode Island College in 2023, Magna Cum Laude, with her Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Performance.
As a frequently called upon accompanist in New England, Christian serves as the collaborative pianist of the
Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus, South Kingstown High School, and RPM Voices of RI. She has also accompanied the RI All-State chorus for many years and has appeared as a guest organist and pianist for several other local ensembles.
Having started playing piano at the age of three, Christian has been accompanying choruses since she was thirteen and directing from the age of seventeen. Passionate about choral conducting, Christian is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Conducting at Rhode Island College, while completing her
minor in Spanish.
At RIC, she currently studies conducting with Professor Joseph
Foley, and previously studied piano with Dr. Judith Stillman. Christian lives in Lincoln, RI with her fiancé and their dog and two cats.
Annette Emerson - Electric Violin
Annette Emerson played violin in the Boston Civic Symphony for 34 years, and over the decades has played in orchestra pits for Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and school musicals, in quartets, and in community orchestras in MA and RI.
Then she got an electric violin, started playing that with the Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus over 8 years ago, and considers this the most fun she’s ever had playing music!
“The RIGMC is such a welcoming and talented group, and the music programs are so varied. Playing violin with the RIGMC singers, director Kim Kuda, and my bandmates is such a joyous music - making experience—and I love seeing the enthusiastic and loyal audience at each performance.” said Annette.
Peter Hebda - Percussion
Peter Hebda has been playing drums with the Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus for over a dozen years and has worked with many different musicians in a variety of settings.
He combines the use of hand percussion with a drum set to enhance the music and provide the vocalists with a stable foundation they can stand and build upon.
He will also occasionally don one of the props that the group uses for a comedic song and join in the fun.
You can read more about Peter at his website: www.prhebda.com
RIGMC is a gathering of individuals who, united through diversity, fellowship, and song,
strives to make a difference in the lives of our singers and our audience.
