Coming from a very musical family, I started playing the piano at age 5 and have been working as a professional musician doing live performances and studio work since I was 12 years old. I’ve studied and played a wide range of musical styles, from Classical and Jazz to Pop and Gospel. I’ve been in a few musical groups in my day and even had my own Latin and Top-40 bands (but that’s a story for another time!) My musical education has also included extensive training in the fields of music theory, choral directing and arranging.
I credit my maternal grandparents for bringing me into the Church as well as pushing me to be involved in music ministry. At age 16 they encouraged me (with maybe a tiny bit of resistance from a teenage me) to share my musical talents with our home parish, Our Lady of St. John in Houston, Texas by playing piano in the choir. Within time, I found myself answering a call to serve as the parish’s Music Director, a position I continued to serve in for years to come. What initially started as a way to honor and appease my elders, ended up becoming a passion that would eventually lead me to where I am today – something I am very grateful for. I know that my Grandma and Grandpa Lopez are looking down from heaven with joy knowing that I’m still answering the call they helped me to hear.
Throughout my adult life I’ve devoted much time and study to liturgical music in all its forms. I enjoy and appreciate the beautifully rich and diverse catalog of music from ancient to modern that has helped to embolden and honor the liturgy of our Catholic Church. I’m simultaneously humbled and excited to help my new parish community here at St. Mary Magdalene worship the Lord through music and song, and I’m eager to bring my knowledge and capabilities to the table as we as a community continue building our parish’s musical legacy together.
Laudate Dominum!