Peter Latona

on the Organs of the Great Upper Church

Nicolaus BRUHUS (1685-1750)
Preludium in G major

McNeil ROBINSON (b. 1941)
Prelude on Llanfair

Girolamo FRESCOBALDI (1583-1643)
Toccata sesta

Jean LANGLAIS (1907-1991)
Canticle (Folkloric Suite)

Maurice DURUFLE (1902-1986)
Scheroz, Op. 2

Gerre HANCOCK (b. 1934)
Air

Improvisations on the proper texts of the
     Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Louis VIERNE (1870-1937)
Toccata (Pieces de Fantasie)

(b. 1968) Peter Latona is the Music Director for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, DC) the pre-eminent Marian shrine of the Catholic Church in the United States where, amid the largest collection of modern ecclesiastical art in the world, hundreds of thousands gather each year for worship and prayer.  An award-winning organist, Dr. Latona performs in the U.S. and in Europe, has presented workshops on improvisation, and has released a recording, An Organ Pilgrimage on the Raven label, featuring all four pipe organs at the Basilica.  As the conductor of the Choir of teh Basilica, he released seven recordings of sacred choral music, presented concerts in the US and abroad, and was featured on Public Radio International.  Among the more recent recording projects, John Paul II: A Celebration of Life and Faith, combines spoken passages from the writings of the late pontiff with choral works highlighting the major themes of his pontificate, and Solemn Vespers with Pope Benedict XVI, recorded live at the Basilica during the Apostolic journey of His Holiness to the United States.  Active as a composer, Dr. Latona has several commissions to his credit and is published by Morningstar Music Publishers, Compositions include: Ego sum ostium, for chorus, orchestra and soprano solo, composed for the International Celebration of the Jubilee in Vatican City; My Hope is Arisen, for chorus and orchestra; Fanfare-Introit and Procession on Da pacem for orchestra and chorus composed for the the National Convention of the Knights of Columbus; and Missa Personet Hodie for chorus, double brass ensemble and percussion.  Dr. Latona was also commissioned to compose music by the Archdioceses of Washington and New York for the visit of His Holiness Benedict XVI in April of 2008.

Dr. Latona is a graduate of Bucknell University (B. Mus.), the Yale School of Music (M. Mus.) and the Manhattan School of Music (D.M.A.), his teachers having include Thomas Murray, Jean Langlais and Gerre Hancock (improvisation).  Dr. Latona serves on the steering committee for the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians, and is chair of the DCAGO Foundation.