Published by John Gaffney
Born in South Milwaukee, WI, John began studying piano at the age of seven while growing up in the Chicago Suburbs. At age twelve he transitioned to organ study. His first job ever was in high school as Assistant Director of Music at a large Roman Catholic parish. He moved to California after high school where he studied music theory and composition, choral conducting and theology on the medium-sized, private (Roman Catholic) campus of the University of San Diego. John continued with five years of graduate studies in liturgy and sacred music at the also private (Roman Catholic) Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley in Northern California. John has worked in parish liturgy and music for over twenty years with his last parish position being Director of Liturgy and Music at the largest, most culturally diverse parish in the Diocese of San Diego. John has lead workshops in various dioceses on many different liturgical and musical topics, especially focused on reimplementing the Church's tradition of sung liturgy (including singing the propers rather than replacing them with another hymn or song [which is done at most parishes] and is not the liturgical tradition of the Church nor what the Roman Missal and all current abiding Church documents on music call for as the ideal). Sung liturgy in itself unfortunately is a rarity in parishes that celebrate the Roman Rite. John has designed workshops to help revitalize this important tradition of the Church that help and instruct dioceses and parishes on how to easily get their priests and laity to learn and implement singing the liturgy. John also continues to compose and publish with the goal of composing choral music accessible to the average, volunteer parish choir as well as liturgical music (particularly simple settings of liturgical texts like the Propers) and his soon to be released (GIA published) simple, a capella setting of the "Song of Farewell" (official OCF text) which is something much needed! This sung rich-theological text is often replaced with another song at funeral Masses while the body is being incensed. In addition to liturgy and music, John's other passion is aviation with hundreds of flight hours under his belt. He flies out of Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK) with Windy City Aviation.
John has many popular workshops and is also available to customize a workshop on any music or liturgical topic for your parish or diocese. For more information see the Workshops page.
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John Gaffney, Music & Liturgy 
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