Music Ministry

Music at the Basilica of St. Josaphat exists to glorify God and edify worshippers in this marvelous sacred space. Music at the Basilica is Catholic — timeless, universal, and traditional.

 

The 10:00am Mass each Sunday (September through July) sung by the Basilica Choir. The other weekend Masses are led by Cantor and the Grand Basilica Pipe Organ.

The Basilica Choir  

The Basilica Choir is a mixed adult choir that sings the best of the repertoire from the entire breadth of the Church's treasury of sacred music.

Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30pm in the Undercroft Social Space of the Basilica. The Choir sings the 10:00am Sunday Mass preceded by Warm-up in the Social Space at 9:20am. The Choir also sings Holy Days, Christmas, and the Sacred Triduum.

If you would like to audition for the Basilica Choir, go to this link to fill out an "Audition Request Form": 

 

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Lee's Bio

Lee Gwozdz, Director of Sacred Music for both the Basilica and School, proudly brings his Polish American heritage talent to our community here at the Basilica of St. Josaphat. Pronounced “Gwoats”, Lee had the honor of conducting many Papal Masses and events for our Polish Pope St. Pope John Paul II in San Antonio, Denver and Rome. Lee is known and respected throughout the United States for his work in the area of children’s choirs and for building one of the top Cathedral Music Ministries in the United States. Past honors include “Musician of the Year” by his over 10,000 peers of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.

At the age of 8, Lee began playing the organ for his school Masses at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Ft. Worth, Texas with his first piano teacher Sister Barbara Frances of the Holy Family of Nazareth Polish Order. At the age of 12, he began studying with TCU Organ Professor Emmett Smith. Soon after that, he took part in Organ Master Classes for 2 summers in Europe playing on the Grand Organ at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris then with Jean Langlais (the late blind organist at St. Clotilde in Paris), Maurice Durufle (the late composer of St. Stephens in Paris), Michael Schneider (renowned Bach specialist of Germany), Flor Peeters (renowned Belgian composer), Lady Susie Jeans of England, and Noel Goemanne, formally of Belgium, who moved to Dallas, Texas prior to his death in 2010.

A native of Ft. Worth, Texas, Lee is the son of the late Dr. Feliks and Eugenia Gwozdz, both survivors of WWII Nazi Concentration Camps. For the past three years, Lee and his family have been focusing their attention on a Hollywood film project that will share the love story of their parents during the war entitled “Heart of Sole” - A Holocaust Story of Music, Survival and Love.

Known as Ft. Worth’s “Von Trapp Family” – Lee and his four siblings would frequently present musical programs with their parents at many civic events throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Lee received degrees in Music Education and Organ Performance.

On a lighter note, Lee played for the Texas Rangers Professional Baseball Team, coached by Billy Martin, in the Sport’s Organist Position at Arlington Stadium. As Sports Organist for the Ft. Worth Texans Hockey Team – his music helped to inspire the team to Adam’s Cup Victory in defeating the Dallas Black Hawks.