Daniel Sauceda
Phoenix,AZ
Summary
Daniel Sauceda is a pastoral musician with a diverse knowledge and skills for today's Catholic congregations with almost 20 years of experience in music ministry and 11 years of directing experience. An extremely versatile musician, Daniel is a skilled organist, pianist, cantor, multi-instrumentalist, conductor, and orchestrator. With a deep love for The Church, Daniel ties his love of Christ to his love of music to foster and grow music ministry, strengthen prayer, deepen faith, and advance the mission of The Catholic Church in the world.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Sacred Music
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church And School
07.2019 - Current
- Direct the expansive music ministry program at St Thomas Aquinas Church and School
- Direct and maintain 5 parish choirs: principal choir, contemporary choir, men's choir, schola cantorum, children's choir to sing at 4 of our 5 weekend masses as well as other special Masses and Holy Days of Obligation
- Develop a repertoire for the choirs rooted in the rich music tradition of the Church but also drawing from contemporary music as well as inclusion of Spanish and Tagalog hymns. Music selections range from chant, sacred polyphony, traditional hymnody, choral repertoire from all time periods, and contemporary music (especially for the more contemporary Saturday 5PM Mass choir and ensemble).
- Recruit and train paid professional singers and volunteers alike, assessing their strengths and weaknesses to help them blend into choral sound as well as teach beginners the fundamentals of singing and music
- Use music and rehearsal to catechize choir members, teaching the Bible, Biblical history, and the teachings of the Church within the rehearsal space.
- Accompany the choir or cantors on organ and play organ for weekend liturgies, and recruit substitute organists when needed.
- Maintain the music budget for the parish.
- Collaborate with parish staff and whenever necessary, aid in administrative needs.
- Collaborate with St Thomas Aquinas school music program for special events and special liturgies.
- Provide music for funerals and weddings throughout the year as needed
- Collaborate with the Pastor and Clergy to create cohesion in planning for liturgies.
Section Leader and Interim Music Director
Special Masses For The Diocese Of Phoenix
04.2021 - Current
- Direct and/or play music for several special masses at SS Simon and Jude Cathedral, The Diocesan Chapel, and St Thomas Aquinas in Avondale, such as Mass for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Chrism Masses (Directed 2021), Mass for the Ordination of Priests (Directed, 2023).
- Recruit singers and instrumental ensembles to enhance the music for the listed special masses (i.e. Christmas, Easter, All Saints, All Souls, & more) and direct the entirety of the ensemble.
- On smaller scale Masses, play and sing simultaneously for the Masses.
- Create new arrangements of music for the instrumental ensemble tailored to the events and space.
- Create new choral arrangements of hymns to enhance the harmonies and elevate the sense of importance and grandeur of the given liturgies.
Music Director and Organist
St Mary St Catherine Of Siena Parish
02.2012 - 06.2019
- Direct two parish choirs with repertoire ranging from early chant, to traditional hymnody, to contemporary, and a repertoire of various languages.
- Recruit and train volunteer singers to grow the music ministry program.
- Playing, singing, and directing music for 4 weekend liturgies, holy days of obligation, funerals, and weddings.
- Create and direct ensembles for special liturgies such as a brass ensemble for Christmas and Easter, including an orchestra for Easter Vigil.
Music Director
Charlestown Community Choir
02.2015 - 06.2019
- Founded and directed a choir of all skill levels built mainly of members from within the Charlestown suburb of Boston, to provide enriching high quality music to the community for free.
- Taught music appreciation, history, and fundamentals to vocalists and musicians of all ages.
- Worked with a small budget and resources; being creative to acquire necessary funding and resources to keep the ensemble running.
Assistant Director, Arranger, Accompanist
Winchester High School
01.2015 - 06.2015
- Accompany school choirs on piano or percussion.
- Create arrangements and harmonizations of selections of music tailored to the specific needs and strengths of the school choirs.
- Audio record performances and rehearsals.
- Direct the choirs in absence of the director.
Music Director and Organist
Monrovia United Methodist Church
06.2008 - 07.2011
- Maintain and direct the choir for Sunday service with repertoire ranging from traditional hymnody to contemporary worship music.
- Play the organ at Sunday service.
- Direct children's choir to sing one short song per service.
Education
Master of Music - Composition
The Boston Conservatory
Boston, MA05.2013
Skills
- Intimate knowledge & experience with performing the music of The Church including, but not limited to: chant, sacred polyphony, traditional hymnody, antiphons, contemporary music, modern choral repertoire, and sacred repertoire in other languages ie Spanish and Tagalog
- Awareness of Church teaching and documents on music and the purpose of music in The Church and its capability to uplift parishioners and bring them into deeper intimacy with Christ
- Ability to work with vocalists of all skill levels to create a fully blended choral sound
- Ability to create a cohesive music ministry program that will foster the learning of music, scripture, and Church teaching for the enrichment of all participants in the ministry
- Extensive experience with teaching instrumental music, conducting instrumental ensembles, and recruiting members to form small and large ensembles alike, including full orchestras
- Experience with sound systems to optimize audio clarity for the music and speaking microphones alike
- Collaborative spirit, always willing to work with other ministries and staff to be a part of the team working toward the Mission of The Church
- Collaborative with other music directors in greater music ministry projects such as combined choirs and ensembles for larger special masses
Other Education
-Bachelor of Music studies in composition, California State University, Los Angeles 2006-2011
-Choral and Instrumental conducting courses and training, California State University, Los Angeles 2008-2011
-Instrumental Performance in classical and Latin American percussion, lessons and ensembles, California State University, Los Angeles and The Boston Conservatory 2006-2013
Other Skills
-Competent flautist and clarinetist
-Competent in bass guitar
-Mariachi singer
-Various services to Indigenous communities including teaching of music, aid in daily life, delivery of home needs.
-Contributor of research for panel discussions at universities including Harvard, Tufts, and more, surrounding current day social issues affecting the Indigenous communities in the US.
-Experience teaching Catechism for adults
Timeline
Section Leader and Interim Music Director
Special Masses For The Diocese Of Phoenix
04.2021 - Current
Director of Sacred Music
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church And School
07.2019 - Current
Music Director
Charlestown Community Choir
02.2015 - 06.2019
Assistant Director, Arranger, Accompanist
Winchester High School
01.2015 - 06.2015
Music Director and Organist
St Mary St Catherine Of Siena Parish
02.2012 - 06.2019
Music Director and Organist
Monrovia United Methodist Church
06.2008 - 07.2011
Master of Music - Composition
The Boston Conservatory
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