Music Director Departs after 19 Years
Though he continues to play the piano and organ, and lead singers in special music, David Rigby is packed and ready to depart for Savannah, Georgia, where he will spend a well-earned retirement.
Rigby was the sole organist/pianist/music director of the Santa Monica Church for the past 19 years, providing four to five singers weekly. During that time, he also provided and led a full orchestra for two or three special programs at the church. Also during that time, he never took a morning off: providing music for Santa Monica on Sabbath and, on Sundays, another church in the area. During weekdays, he taught music in public school for 25 years. Clearly, he loved his work.
Rigby came to the Cal State Long Beach from Georgia, eager for new experiences in learning, and enjoying meeting new friends. He was raised Baptist and Disciples of Christ, and said, “I more recently claimed Adventism as one of my religious interests.” Through it all, he said, “I really loved my work.”
As proof of this, Kammy Burnett, a singer in the group led by David, says: "David is a rare kind of music director. He has high standards and gets good results from the musicians and singers he works with.
"His faith and his music are interwoven. Many people who have heard his groups, comment that a song he chose randomly ended up being uncannily appropriate for the day."
Colleen Keene, another singer, speaks for the various ones who have sung at the church when she says, "Any church he decides to associate with in his new hometown will be extremely lucky to have him! We will all miss him tremendously!"