LATROBE, PA – Dr. Thomas Octave, Associate professor of Music and Chairperson of the Music Department at Saint Vincent College, has been appointed as a member of the inaugural Mathis Liturgical Leadership cohort of Notre Dame in July. The two-year program focuses on the opportunity for education and growth in areas around major pastoral issues fronting the Church.
As one of 21 participants who were selected to the cohort, Dr. Octave will work alongside the other members to nurture Eucharistic culture in schools and communities to promote a more prominent affiliation with the Church. “The real genius for our approach is to invite those already exercising leadership in the United States to join us for two years of conversation and planning for the future of liturgical formation in the Church,” says Timothy O’Malley, Academic Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. Over the two-year program, priests, parish directors, educators, lay ministers and working professionals will work toward the completion of a project, publication and/or teaching resources, for which scholarships and funding are provided, with the help of experts and consulting coursework.
Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Music in vocal performance from Duquesne University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Sacred Music from Graduate Theological Foundation, Dr. Octave’s continuous contributions to the Saint Vincent Community never go unnoticed. This past May, he was awarded the 2021 Boniface Wimmer Faculty Award at Saint Vincent College’s virtual spring Honors Convocation that recognizes faculty who have demonstrated sustained excellence in their work.
As a member of the Saint Vincent College faculty since 2006, he teaches numerous courses including music appreciation, musical theater and the art and music of western civilization. Additionally, he provides private vocal lessons for undergraduate students. Dr. Octave serves as the advisor and conductor of the Saint Vincent College Singers and has served as a conductor for several Saint Vincent College Summer Theatre productions. Octave is also the Director of the Diocesan Choir of Greensburg, a choir made up of members of the parishes of the diocesan of Greensburg who provide elegant music at diocesan liturgical celebrations.