Paul Salamunovich, conductor

Age: a lively 77

At the Chorale: currently Music Director Emeritus, previously Assistant Conductor for 24 years then Music Director from 1991 to 2001. This concert marks his first guest appearance with the Master Chorale since his retirement.

Debut: began singing as a boy soprano at age 10

Recently: conducted the Angeles Chorale and Ventura Master Chorale – led the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Master Chorale of the United States as part of the annual Festival of Sacred Music at St. John Lateran (Rome) in November 2003

Notable performances: led the St. Charles Borromeo Choir (North Hollywood) in performances before Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1985 and 1988, and for the Pope at St. Vibiana’s Cathedral (Los Angeles) in 1987

Televised performance: the NBC Christmas Eve Special with the St. Charles Borromeo Choir

Film and television soundtracks: responsible for choral music for over 100 film and TV productions including True Confessions, First Knight, Air Force One, A.I., Sum of All Fears, XXX, Peter Pan, Flatliners, ER and Cirque de Soleil’s Journey of Man

As an educator: on the music faculty at Mount St. Mary’s College for 18 years and the Loyola Marymount University music faculty for 27 years, named Professor Emeritus in 1993 - has taught clinics and workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, South America, the Bahamas, Europe, Australia and the Far East

Awards and honors: made a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope Paul VI, “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the American Choral Directors Association and honorary doctorates from Loyola Marymount and the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

Recordings: with the Los Angeles Master Chorale include Christmas, Argento-Duruflé and the Grammy™-nominated Lauridsen-Lux Aeterna, which was composed for and dedicated to Salamunovich

Currently: music director at St. Charles Borromeo, where he has served since 1949