Dr. John Paul Cappa

John Paul was born in Wheeling, WV and raised in the Laurel Highlands, south of Pittsburgh, PA.  He began playing the organ at his home parish of St. Margaret Mary in Lower Burrell at age thirteen and began directing the Polish choir at St. Mary Czestohova in New Kensington at age fifteen. 

He attended Grove City College for his Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music, cum laude; the University of Notre Dame for his Masters degree in Liturgical Music, and WVU for his DMA in Organ Performance.  He is now completing the DMA in Choral Conducting at USF, while he directs music at St. Mark Church in Tampa, FL. 

John Paul also teaches Gregorian chant at St. Leo University and does seminars in Gregorian chant for parish use, and lectures on American organ music for various AGO chapters, most recently the Atlanta, GA AGO, and is active in Pueri Cantores choral groups. 

He has taken two choirs on Peter’s Way tours to Italy:  the St. George Parish Choir of Erie, PA and the Mother of Sorrows Parish Choir of Murrysville, PA.  The monks of St. Leo Abbey and St. Mark Men’s Schola have combined under John’s direction for special liturgies and occasions.