Dr. Ben Riggs
Music Director
Music Director
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Ben joined St. John’s in 2018 as Minister of Music, where he directs adult, children, and youth choruses and accompanies worship services on piano and organ. Ben was recently interim Director of Chapel (2021-22) at Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CA), where he also taught Church Music & Liturgical Singing.
For nearly two decades Ben has conducted large Tenor-Bass choruses as Artistic Director of Denver Gay Men’s Chorus (CO), Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus (MN), and Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus (CA). Equally proficient in conducting SATB choruses, Ben recently concluded a six-year tenure as Artistic Director of Resound Ensemble (CA). Ben is a founding member of the Firesign Vocal Quartet, a Denver-based professional vocal quartet. Ben recorded two albums with Firesign: William Byrd & Terry Schlenker: Masses for Four Voices (2011) and Follow We This Joyful Birth (2012). While in Minnesota, Ben performed with The Singers – Minnesota Chorale Artists, a professional choral ensemble under the direction of Matthew Culloton. Ben holds a Bachelor of Music in piano from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Literature and Performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Ben lives in Oakland, CA, with his husband, the Rev. John F. Dwyer, and their 3-year-old Bernedoodle, Hudson. |
