Thomas Octave, associate professor of music at Saint Vincent College, will conduct the Saint Vincent College Singers and Festival Choir in a performance of Handel’s Messiah at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 7 in the
Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica. Tickets are $15. Tickets for a pre-concert benefit which includes reserved seating are $75. For information call 724-805-2177.
Octave will also conduct a Saint Vincent Family Christmas Concert in the Basilica at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 14. Tickets are $15.
Octave has degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University. As a conductor, he is frequently seen presenting a multitude of varied genres of music including operas and musicals.
He has collaborated with jazz legend Joe Negri in performances of “Mass of Hope,” The River City Brass Band, Highmark’s “The Caring Place” and renowned choreographer Maria Caruso.
A champion of new music, Octave has premiered several major works by composer Nancy Galbraith, including her “O Magnum Mysterium,” “God of Justice,” “Novena” and “Lumen Christi.” He conducts the Saint Vincent College Singers and teaches courses in voice, music appreciation and opera. He is also the musical consultant to the archabbot. He is the music director of the Westmoreland Choral Society and the director of sacred music for the Diocese of Greensburg.