Thomas Pavlechko
Austin, TX
thom
Organist
"I believe that I am led and inspired by our Advocate, the Holy Spirit.
I trust God calls me to the Ministry of Music and consider it to be a sacred vocation.
I feel liturgical music should be homiletic: supporting, re-enforcing and illuminating the Word.
Musical expression can take many forms. However, due to the pastoral nature of music, I firmly believe that any music offered to the Glory of God should be sincere and worshipful, and always to the best of my ability."
--Thomas Pavlechko
There are eight organists in Pavlechko’s family, among them, his mother, great grandfather, and two cousins who were recently honored by their New Jersey church for 110 years of service between them.
Pavlechko played the organ for a church service for the first time at the age of 13, and was hired as the youngest organist in the church’s history at the age of 15 for services conducted entirely in the Slovak language.
At the age of 18, he took his first organ lesson at the Cathedral Church of St. Columba, subsequently winning a full scholarship to study organ at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University, where he earned the degree Bachelor of Music, Cum Laude. Pavlechko went on to earn the degree Master of Music from University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, also with a full scholarship.
In his first six years at St. Martin’s, Pavlechko expanded the musically-conservative palate of St. Martin's by involving over 150 volunteers in 10 new ensembles, including a 40-piece wind symphony. He drew the plans for the current music wing, and added a second pipe organ.
Pavlechko has also been chapel musician, adjunct faculty and liturgical consultant for the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, and served for four years in various leadership capacities on the worship committee of the Southwestern Texas Synod.
From 2000 to 2006, Pavlechko was the Organist-Choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he oversaw the rebuilding of a major portion of the Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, restored the professional choir, produced a CD recording, purchased new choir vestments, led the combined choirs and choristers on a pilgrimage to sing at Washington National Cathedral, and, with a jazz-style combo that included the rector, performed old southern river songs in the presence of the retired Archbishop of Canterbury during his week-long residency at Calvary.
Pavlechko coordinated music for the nationally-recognized Daily Lenten Preaching Series, an 80-year Calvary tradition.
Pavlechko was also active in the Diocese, and led the music for the most recent Faculty Convocation Conference of Episcopal CREDO held in Memphis.
After his return to St. Martin's, Pavlechko successfully led a capital campaign to purchase 600 new Lutheran hymnals. Processional bell banners were re-built and expanded, and St. Martin's was re-established as a highly sought-after concert venue.
Pavlechko is a commissioned Stephen Minister, has completed the pilgrimage and initial training to be a Labyrinth facilitator, and has earned the first level certificate in the Healing Touch Program. He celebrates his 30th anniversary in his vocation as a church musician on January 1, 2008.
The Calvary Choir, Easter 2004
Austin, TX
thom
