Our Directors
Ken Abrams
Director
Ken Abrams is in his sixth year as the Artistic Director of The Blackhawk Chorus.
He is a graduate of California State University, East Bay, where he majored in Vocal Performance and graduated cum laude. He received his master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois where he graduated magna cum laude.
Before assuming his role with The Blackhawk Chorus, Ken was the beloved choral director at San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS) for 36 years. In addition, from 1992 until this past May, Ken was the artistic director of the Danville Girls Chorus—a community children’s choir with over 150 singers in five separate levels.
Choruses under Ken’s direction have achieved notable recognition. The SRVHS choirs earned 16 first-place awards at the prestigious Northern California Golden State Choral Competitions and were featured at prominent ACDA Western Division Conferences in 2008 and 2010. During his tenure with The Blackhawk Chorus, Ken has led the group to four consecutive “Best of the East Bay” awards in the performing arts.
Touring has been an important component of Ken’s artistic program. At SRVHS, Ken’s choirs traveled to locations in Central Europe, the British Isles, Australia/New Zealand, Spain, and the Baltics. SRVHS choirs had the honor of performing at the Vatican, at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, and at the Sydney Opera House. Ken has led Blackhawk Chorus members on tours to Washington, D.C., and to Paris and Normandy in France. A trip to Quebec is planned for 2027.
Ken has also been widely recognized personally for his professional achievements. He was selected as “Teacher of the Year” for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District in 1996, at San Ramon Valley High School in 2002, and by the Danville Chamber of Commerce in 2006. Ken is the past president of the California chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and served as the High School Representative for the ACDA Western Division Region. He was named the California “2022 Choral Director of the Year” by the California Choral Directors Association.
Geoff Carter
Assistant Director & Accompanist
Geoff Carter is a product of the Castro Valley Public School System and a proud member of the Castro Valley High School Class of 1980. After graduating, he spent three years at California State University, Hayward (now Cal State East Bay), before transferring to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance.
While at Cal State, Geoff sang in the choirs under the direction of his father, Harry Carter. It was there that he first met Blackhawk Chorus director Ken Abrams.
After graduating from CU Boulder, Geoff returned to the Bay Area to pursue training as a choral teacher. His final student teaching assignment was with a high school program in Concord under the mentorship of Virginia Walker—and he was hooked. Thirty-six years later, Geoff is grateful to have been part of wonderful school communities and to have worked with outstanding students and colleagues at Ygnacio Valley High School, Oak Grove Middle School, and Northgate High School.
During his teaching career, Geoff also served as an adjunct choral instructor at Diablo Valley College and Las Positas College. In addition, he led a worship band, choir, and bell choir at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek for twelve years.
With encouragement from his parents, Geoff began studying piano at the age of four and continued formal study through college, often accompanying his own choral groups along the way. He has been performing professionally on piano and keyboards since age seventeen and currently plays with various jazz ensembles throughout the Bay Area.
Since retiring from teaching, Geoff enjoys supporting outstanding choirs and their directors from behind the piano. In addition to accompanying the Blackhawk Chorus, he also works with choral programs in the Castro Valley and Hayward Unified School Districts. Geoff is delighted to collaborate once again with Ken Abrams and is grateful for the opportunity to work with the mighty Blackhawk Chorus.
