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Paul A. Thornock II is a native of Washington State. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Puget Sound where he studied organ with the late Edward Hansen, and conducting with Paul Schultz. Mr. Thornock earned the Master of Music in Organ Performance and Literature degree at the University of Notre Dame as a student of Craig Cramer. While at Notre Dame, Paul was graduate assistant organist at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart under the direction of Gail Walton. Before coming to Columbus in November 1999, Paul and his wife, Nancy, lived in South Bend, Indiana where Paul served Saint Pius X Parish as Director of Liturgy and Music. He conducted five choirs and oversaw the administration of a comprehensive music ministry for the 7,000 member parish.

Mr. Thornock is currently Cathedral Director of Music and Diocesan Music Consultant in the Catholic Diocese of Columbus. He conducts the Cathedral Choir, Cathedral Schola, manages the Cathedral Concert Series, and coordinates music for diocesan events, in addition to his playing responsibilities.

Mr. Thornock may be heard on two compact discs. In the spring of 1997, he recorded An Adelphian Celebration, marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Adelphian Concert Choir at the University of Puget Sound. He accompanied the choir in Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb and works of Dominic Argento. In the spring of 1999, he accompanied the choirs of the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart when they recorded Cantate Domino: Music from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, featuring sacred works from all periods.


Robert Wisniewski was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1956, and holds degrees in music performance and sacred music from Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania (magna cum laude) and Yale Institute of Sacred Music. He is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists (AAGO), and has been a featured recitalist in the annual “Piccolo Spoleto” arts festival held in Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Wisniewski is also noted as an improviser, and has presented workshops on improvisation and accompanying. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio’s "Pipedreams" series and on WOSU-FM, Columbus.

Prior to assuming the position of Principal Organist/Assistant Director of Music at St. Joseph Cathedral, Mr. Wisniewski served as minister of music for St. Catharine Parish, Columbus (1996-2004), St. Mary Parish, Marion (1986-96), and St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1980 – 86). He was also Dean of the Columbus chapter of the American Guild of Organists from 2005 to 2007, during which time he served on the Steering and Workshop committees for the AGO Region V Convention held in Columbus on June 25-28, 2007.


Dorothy Riley has been an organist at Saint Joseph Cathedral since 1990, having previously completed twenty-six years as organist at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley, Ohio. Prior to that, she served at Westminster Presbyterian Church, High Street Church of Christ, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron, Ohio. Through her work at University Music House in Columbus, she serves the sacred choral, organ, and handbell music needs of musicians throughout the area. For many years her workshop and seminar presentations have assisted novice and veteran church musicians alike in fulfilling their various professional needs.

Mrs. Riley attended Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Dr. Farley K. Hutchins. Further studies included work with Marcel Dupré (St. Sulpice, Paris), Dr. Wilber Held (The Ohio Sate University and Trinity Episcopal Church), Vernon DeTar (Church of the Ascension and Juilliard School of Music, New York), and Walter Blodgett (Cleveland Art Institute). She has won local and regional competitions of the American Guild of Organists, and has served that organization as Dean of the Akron Chapter and Sub-Dean of the Central Ohio Chapter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Photos are either courtesy of the Diocese of Columbus or by Dustin and Alyssa Grovemiller.