Music Directors

 

Mr. Alberto González serves as Director of music and Organist at Holy Spirit Church, where he conducts the St. Gregory the Great Choir, accompanies all three parish choirs, and manages the parish-wide music program.  He has over 15 years of wide-ranging experience in sacred music, and has served professionally as a vocalist, organist, and choir director.  Mr. González’s bi-coastal career has consisted of many forms of service within a wide range of Catholic institutions. He had significant involvement with Hispanic communities in his native California, where he worked to develop a repertoire of sacred music that incorporated Gregorian chant and the use of the organ for the first time within those communities.  In addition to his work with two parishes, he also took an active role in the numerous musical events surrounding the dedication of the Cathedral of Christ in the Light (Oakland, CA).

Upon moving to the East Coast in 2011 (originally in pursuit of a full-time political career), he assumed posts as a professional vocalist at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (Washington, DC) and at Holy Spirit Church.  He took on the role of organist at Holy Spirit in 2014 and was appointed to his current post in 2017.

Mr. González has studied with George Emblom and Kenneth Lowenberg, voice with Dr. Allen Shearer, and conducting with Dr. Marika Kuzma.  He currently studies conducting with Dr. Timothy McDonnell as he works toward the completion of his final year in the choral conducting Masters’s program at The Catholic University of America.  Mr. González holds a B.A. with majors in Music and Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and is an active member in the Church Music Association of America (CMAA). He presently resides in Arlington, VA.

Mrs. Lisa Gullickson is the St. Cecilia Youth Choir Director. She has been a cantor and soprano section leader at Holy Spirit Church since 2009, but her journey with liturgical music began way before then. She was nine years old when joined her the youth choir at her home parish of Saint John Neumann in Reston, Virginia, and has been singing in the Catholic Church ever since. She received her Masters Degree in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from George Mason University and has used her training to perform and teach individuals and groups of all ages. Mrs. Gullickson believes that God gives us our talents to glorify Him and to be of service to His people. She pours her passion for teaching and encouraging young musicians into the Saint Cecilia Youth Choir at Holy Spirit Church.

 

Mrs. Beverly Nejako is the Contemporary Praise Group Choir Director.