Thomas Pavlechko Concert details and background

Education: Thomas Pavlechko graduated from Chaney High School, Youngstown State University Dana School of Music and University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Position: Since 2006, he has been cantor and composer-in-residence at the 1,500-member St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, (www.saintmartins.org) where he was director of music and principal organist from 1994 to 2000. He increased the music ministry to involve more than 150 volunteers, re-opened the church as a popular concert venue and completed production of a compact disc comprised of recordings of St. Martin’s diverse music ensembles.

Career: While living in the Mahoning Valley, he served as organist for St. John Lutheran Church, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Calvary Baptist Church. He has been chapel musician, adjunct faculty and liturgical consultant for the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest. From 2000 to 2006, Pavlechko was the organist-choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tenn., where he oversaw the rebuilding of the Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, restored the professional choir and produced a CD recording.

Published works: He has composed more than 25 choral works, 85 hymns, and 1,000 Psalm settings, all in print with nine publishers throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. He is co-editor of the new Episcopal worship planning resource, Liturgical Music for the Revised Common Lectionary released by Church Publishing. He also collaborated with Augsburg Fortress Publishers on a new translation of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion for Chorales.

Other accomplishments: Coordinated music for the nationally recognized Daily Lenten Preaching Series and was named the Emerging Hymn Tune Composer by the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. He also has performed at St. Patrick Cathedral in New York and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Family ties: There are eight organists in the Pavlechko family including his mother, great-grandfather and two cousins who were recently honored by their New Jersey church for a combined 110 years of service.