Past Directors – Dr. Richard P. Gibala (1990 – 2022)
Dr. Richard P. Gibala was Director of Music at The Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Virginia, from 1990 to 2022 and also served as Artistic Director of Cathedral Concerts during that period. He was the Music Coordinator for the Diocese of Arlington, and is a charter member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Council.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he served as music coordinator for the Diocese of Pittsburgh from 1978 – 1986, where he founded the Diocesan Choir and the local chapter of the NPM. Rick served as chairperson for the NPM regional conventions in Pittsburgh in 1982 and in Washington, DC in 1990. He chaired the national NPM convention held in Washington, DC, July, 2001. In 1999 Rick was honored at the national NPM convention as Pastoral Musician of the Year. In September, 2000, he received an honorary doctorate from the Leonine Institute.
He also served as chair for the 2003 regional convention of the American Guild of Organists held in Northern Virginia, and chair for the Millennial Gathering of The Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians held in Washington, DC in 1999.Rick was dean of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists from 1998-2000, and served as chair of the Tri Chapter of the AGO from 2004 – 2006. He has also served as Chapter Director for the Arlington Chapter of NPM.Rick has conducted workshops and retreats, and has served as guest choral conductor in various locations throughout the United States. He has been an organ consultant to over 30 churches in Pennsylvania and Virginia.
He has written articles for The American Organist, Pastoral Music, Today’s Parish, Church, and The Liturgical Singer, and is the author of With Harp, Lyre, and Spatula, a cookbook for church musicians, published by NPM. Rick’s compositions have been published by GIA and Morning Star Publication.
Rick’s Intercession Response was selected to be sung at the World Family of Meetings and the first visit of Pope Francis to the United States.
