Music News and Concerts

Cathedral Gallery Singers member and cantor Matthew Curtis was awarded a scholarship for graduate studies in vocal performance at the University of Minnesota.  He completed his bachelor's degree at Viterbo University in the spring of 2008, where he was a voice student of Daniel Johnson-Wilmot, and began the master's program in Minneapolis in the fall.  We are delighted that he will be able to commute to La Crosse on the weekends and continue to sing at the Cathedral.

Cathedral Gallery Singers member and cantor Andrew Kroes was awarded a scholarship for graduate studies in vocal performance at Indiana University.  He completed his bachelor's degree at Viterbo University in the spring of 2008, where he was a voice student of Daniel Johnson-Wilmot, and began the master's program in Bloomington in the fall.  We wish him well.

On July 31, 2008, the Cathedral Gallery Singers sang for the Dedication of the Church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse.  The music included a great deal of newly composed music by Brian Luckner, Gregorian Chant, and music by Mozart, Victoria, Guerrero, Bruckner, and others.   The two Mozart works were accompanied by chamber orchestra.  The Mass was broadcast live nationally on EWTN.  Dr. Luckner, assisted by cantors Matt Curtis and Danielle Luckner, led the music for other daily Masses at the Shrine that week as well: the preceding Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the Pilgrim Center's temporary chapel, then Vespers following the Dedication Mass on Thursday, and Masses on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Having been appointed director of music and organist at the Shrine earlier this year, he continues to play the Sunday 1:00 Mass there each Sunday.

On June 27, 2008, Brian Luckner performed a demonstration recital on the wonderful new Noack organ at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse.  The program was a post-convention event for the national gathering of the American Guild of Organists in Minneapolis.

In May, Brian Luckner, Danielle Luckner, Amy Johnson-Pierce, and Matt Curtis completed their recording sessions of the Gregorian Chant Introits for Sundays and major feasts of the entire liturgical year.  The recording was made at the request of the diocesan Worship Office, and the chants will be made available on the Diocese of La Crosse's website in the form of MP3 files.  In addition, we hope to compile them in compact disc format and make a limited number of them available for purchase.  The substantial body of material will occupy five or six CDs.

Brian Luckner's composition Easter Gospel Acclamation was sung at the Papal Mass (Benedict XVI) at Nationals Park stadium in Washington, DC on April 17, 2008.

Brian Luckner was invited to be interviewed for a national satellite radio program by the music director of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Dr. Jennifer Pascual.  The interview was conducted and broadcast live on The Catholic Channel (Sirius Satellite Radio channel 159) on Monday, October 8, 2007.  The one-hour interview featured the Cathedral Gallery Singers' recording Their Sound Goes Forth.