Paul
French

or over three decades Paul French has worked in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago, and since 2001 he has been the Director of Music at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church where he leads a thriving choral program of adult and children's voices. He served as Music Director of the William Ferris Chorale from 2005-2016, in that time establishing it on the professional choral scene as the premier ensemble for breathing life into works of lesser-known and living composers. His 2015 performances of the early 20th century Requiem Masses of Ildebrando Pizzetti and Bonventura Somma were hailed as one of the Top Ten Performances of the Year by the Chicago Classical Review, with critic Lawrence Johnson writing: "French and his singers provided glowing and deeply felt advocacy to these beautiful, neglected works."

Mr. French studied composition, conducting, chant and organ at Saint John's University, Northwestern University, the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome, and privately with William Ferris. A composer of more than 200 instrumental and choral works, he is the Director of Choral Recordings for World Library Publications, for whom he is also the editor of a series of choral works for children's choirs, under the distinguished banner of the American Federation Pueri Cantores. Mr. French also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the American Federation Pueri Cantores, the official student-choral organization of the Roman Catholic Church, and is a member of their conducting roster, leading choral annual festivals in dioceses around the United States.

For over ten years he served as a faculty member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians Choir Director Institutes. Stepping in at the last moment for an indisposed Christopher Bell, Mr. French conducted a concert of the Grant Park Apprentice Chorale, a program which was webcast world-wide by radio station WFMT on their Dame Myra Hess Concert Series. Mr. French was commissioned to create Fanfares and Alleluias for the recent papal visit of Pope Francis to the U.S. in 2015. Another of his works, Concertato on 'Grosser Gott', was performed for the papal visits of both Pope Francis (2015) and Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

Mr. French's published music is available through CanticaNOVA Publications, MorningStar Music, Paraclete Press, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, World Library Publications, GIA Publications, and Oregon Catholic Press.

CanticaNOVA Publications is pleased to offer the music of Paul French in our catalog:

• Give Thanks to the Lord CNP Catalog #1118-2