Christopher Schroeder
Director of Music
Christopher Schroeder
Director of Music
Chris Schroeder’s devotion to music as ministry makes the entire music program at Grace so relevant. His knowledge base and attention to each musical element in worship create an experience so much deeper than what we might perceive through spoken words alone.
Chris became Grace Church’s Minister of Music and Organist in November of 2013, continuing the great music ministry established by his predecessor and friend, Mr. Bruce Eicher. Chris had previously been at Towson Presbyterian Church, his first church job in the state of Maryland. Before moving to Baltimore, Chris spent his prior years in Indiana, his home state. Chris grew up in a very musical family on a dairy farm in Rushville, Indiana when he remembers hearing his Dad’s booming bass voice singing at weddings and funerals. Throughout his childhood, Chris watched his Mother play organ for the weekly Mass at our local Catholic Church. After beginning piano lessons in 3rd grade, Chris began to play organ for church services, both Catholic and Protestant, during his high school years and took organ lessons at Earlham College in Richmond, IN. In adulthood, Chris always maintained a weekend church job while working during the week in various professions, including work as a social worker for the State of Indiana and later as an accountant for the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. In 2001, Chris began work on a Masters Degree in Church Music and Organ Performance at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. His intention with this degree was to find full time employment as a church musician. While at Indiana University, Chris studied with some phenomenal musicians, including his organ teacher, Dr. Marilyn Keiser, a world-renowned organist and church musician. Upon completion of his degree, Chris began searching for full time employment, which eventually lead him to Baltimore. Chris appreciates being on the East Coast where he has made some great friends and colleagues and has found many opportunities to play and perform. Though he misses his large extended family and Indiana friends, Chris was able to be with his family this past July, where three generations of Schroeder’s gathered to visit once again. Chris loves his work at Grace Church, supported by talented soloists, choir members and church members, and collaborating with clergy and staff on meaningful worship experiences. Chris also appreciates the diversity and openness to all that Grace Church expresses throughout each of its ministry. When not working on musical things, Chris enjoys a good run or a long bike ride through the great trails around the DC area, a quick trip to see the ocean at Rehoboth Beach, playing cards (Euchre, Double Pinocle) online or in-person with friends and appreciates good company with friends over a shared meal.
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Noah Duckwall
Associate Organist
Noah Duckwall
Associate Organist
Noah Duckwall is a recent graduate of Oberlin College, earning a bachelor's degree in Organ Performance. He studied organ with Jonathan Moyer, another Baltimorean. During his time at Oberlin, Noah studied harpsichord, collaborated with other students in the historical performance department and helped create incidental music for a stage adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein that took place in Oberlin's medieval-style chapel.
Noah was born and raised in Baltimore and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, studying visual art and music. Noah is the grandson of former Grace member Linda Siglin, who sang alto in the Chancel Choir.
Claire Iverson
Soprano Soloist/Section Leader
Claire Iverson
Soprano Soloist/Section Leader
Claire Marguerite Iverson, soprano, is a lyric-coloratura soprano currently based in Baltimore,
Maryland. In May 2024, she received her master’s degree from the Maryland Opera Studio at
the University of Maryland. She is also a graduate of the dual degree program at Johns Hopkins
University and the Peabody Institute, where she received both a BA in International Studies and
French Language and Literature (double major) and a BM in Voice Performance. In the
2023-2024 season, Claire gave operatic role debuts as Ada (Cold Mountain), Lady Billows
(Albert Herring), and Florencia (Florencia en el Amazonas) and covered Johanna (Sweeney
Todd) and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni). She has also sung with various choruses throughout
the region, including with the National Symphony Orchestra as a soprano ringer (Otello,
Händel’s Messiah) and with the Georgetown Presbyterian Church Choir as soprano section
leader and soloist. When she is not singing, Claire can be found reading at local cafés, hiking, or
trying out new recipes.
Fatima Black
Second Soprano Soloist/Section Leader
Fatima Black
Second Soprano Soloist/Section Leader
Fatima Black is a soprano vocalist recognized for her versatility and passionate performances across various music genres. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ashland University and a Master of Music from Morgan State University. Throughout her musical journey, she has collaborated with esteemed artists, including a notable performance alongside CeCe Winans in the celebrated Morgan State Choir. Fatima is excited to join the lovely choir at Grace United Methodist Church.
Patricia Hengen-Shields
Contralto Soloist/Section Leader
Patricia Hengen-Shields
Contralto Soloist/Section Leader
Patricia Hengen-Shields is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory and the Baltimore School for the Arts. She was most recently seen in Annapolis Opera’s productions of Faust, South Pacific, Madama Butterfly, and will be a soloist in their production of Little Women this Fall. This year, Patricia became a member of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. Other recent stage appearances include Hairspray: In Concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Le Prince Charmant in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Emma Carew in Jekyll & Hyde. Ms. Hengen has been a soloist with the City Choir of Washington and the Central Maryland Chorale, and has won various awards in the NATS Competition in Maryland, Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Henry Hubbard
Tenor Soloist/Section Leader
Henry Hubbard
Tenor Soloist/Section Leader
Henry Hubbard, a versatile tenor with experience in opera, art song, and choral music, is pleased to join the choir at Grace United Methodist. He has performed on stage throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and internationally, specializing in bel canto, classical, and baroque repertoire. Henry currently serves as an Outreach Artist for Maryland Opera, and previously as a Vocal Fellow for the Baltimore Choral Arts Society where he was featured as a soloist at the historic Berlin Philharmonie as part of their 2022 European Tour. Henry Holds Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance & Pedagogy and Musicology from Peabody Conservatory, and bachelor's degrees in voice and finance from James Madison University. He currently lives in Baltimore, where he works as a data analyst for Johns Hopkins University.
David Brock
Associate Organist Emeritus
David Brock
Associate Organist Emeritus
David C. Brock, a native of Georgia, began his church music career at age 11 when he became the principal pianist and then organist at his United Methodist parish church. While attending Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1973, David studied organ privately with music department faculty and was organist for the Glee Club and Women's Chorale for the 1972 Festival of Lessons and Carols. He continued to commute on weekends in order to play at his home church each Sunday.
Following graduation, David was accepted into the Ph.D. program at the Johns Hopkins University and moved to Baltimore. He began attending the A.W. Wilson Memorial church, sang in the choir, and studied organ privately with the music director, Theodore J. Talbert.
In 1977, at the request of SPRC, he became the organist and choir director of the Wilson Memorial church, a position he held until the merger with Grace Church in 1996. David served on many committees at Wilson Memorial, including a number of years as chair of the Administrative Board, a position that he held at the time of the merger with Grace in 1996. When the longtime organist of Grace church, Bruce R. Eicher, requested additional vacation time to pursue travels, David was engaged to be associate organist to fill in for 16 weeks each year. Following Mr. Eicher's retirement, David continued as associate organist under the direction of Christopher Schroeder, minister of music. The position was changed to a focus on accompanying choir anthems, playing for rehearsals, and directing the chancel choir as needed.
In addition to the B.A. degree from Emory, David also earned a M.S. degree from Johns Hopkins, as well as a master's equivalency from Hopkins in history and education. He retired from the Baltimore City Public Schools in 2004 following a 30 year career in the classroom and central office administration. While at Grace, David has served on the Trustees and chaired the Worship Committee and the Administrative Board.
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