The St. Cecilia Choir of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Turners Falls MA

About the Director

Henry Gaida, Parish Organist and Director of the St Cecilia Choir & Ad Hoc Schola Cantorum, is currently enjoying his fourth year as Director, having served and Sub Organist at the parish since 2003. Under his direction the choir has enjoyed a rapid increase in the quality of music making. A graduate of Tuners Falls High School, he has studied Voice and Conducting with Margery Heins, and also sings with the Greenfield Community College Chorus. A self taught organist, he is an accomplished player, playing works by Sweelink, Buxtehude, Bach, Mendelssohn, Dupre, Mathias, Leighton and others.

Apart from his duties as parish Organist, he has also worked as Music Director for the spring musicals at Turners Falls High School, most notably with Once Upon a Mattress (2008) and The Music Man (2009).

Mr. Gaida is also a composer, having been doing so since he was in fourth grade (though very little of these survive). A great enthusiast of the English Tradition, he has written several sacred works for chorus (accompanied and acapella), both in 'neo-Renaissance' and modern styles. Most of these works use quartal, quintal, and secundal harmony, inspired by the music of Britten, Berkeley, Copland, Perischetti, Walter Piston, and John Tavener. Early music, particularly the music of the Notre Dame composers Lioninus and Perotinus; Gregorian chant; the American Primitive William Billings; and the Composers of the Flemish School like Lassus and Josquin have left their mark in his music. The Estonian composer Arvo Part has also been a great influence, Mr Gaida having adapted Part's tintinabuli technique. Also in his catalogue are original Hymn tunes, and carol arrangements, including The Holly and the Ivy, The Sussex Carol, The Truth from Above and The Seven Joys of Mary.

His latest composition "Dissolving Snow", setting a text by Greenfield Community College English Professor Joanne McNiel Hayes, was premiered by the GCC Chorus on 29 April. He is currently working on a Mass for 5 Part Choir and an Evening Service for 4 part Choir and Organ.