Thomas Gaynor is appointed associate director of music and organist at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Houston, Texas. He leaves his position as associate director of music at Christ Episcopal Church, Pittsford, New York, where he has served since 2014. In his new role he will direct the Vesper Choir, co-direct the two chorister programs, and share organist duties for eight weekend Masses and numerous weekly liturgies.
A native of Wellington, New Zealand, Gaynor earned his undergraduate degree from the New Zealand School of Music while holding organ scholarships at Wellington Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul and St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church. In 2012 he moved to Rochester, New York, to study with David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music. He recently graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Eastman’s highest honor, the Artist’s Certificate.
In 2017 Gaynor was presented with the Gold Medal and Audience Prize at the St. Albans International Organ Competition. This followed first prizes at the Bach-Liszt Internationaler Orgelwettbewerb Erfurt/Weimar, the Sydney International Organ Competition, and the Fort Wayne National Organ Playing Competition. He also holds second prizes from the Tokyo-Musashino International Organ Competition, the Miami International Organ Competition, and the Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition. He has concertized across North America, Europe, Oceania, and in Japan and Colombia. In 2018, Gaynor presented the North American premiere of Jean-Baptiste Robin’s organ concerto, Fantaisie Mécanique. He is a member of The Diapason’s 20 Under 30 Class of 2016.
For information: thomasgaynor.com.
Other recent appointments:
Hillary Guttman to Scott R. Riedel & Associates, Ltd., Milwaukee, WI
