LOUIS LAWRENCE PERAZZA - Biography

Louis Lawrence Perazza is a native Philadelphian, and received the bulk of his musical training in the Philadelphia area. An accomplished organist at the age of 12 Louis is well known in the tri state area through his recitals and conducting engagements.

He has attended the New School of Music, The Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, and is a graduate of the Temple University College of Music and holds a Bachelor Degree in organ Performance. While at Temple he also studied flute and conducting.
Mr. Perazza is also a graduate of the world renowned Peabody Conservatory of Music where he was awarded a Graduate Performance Degree in organ performance.

Mr. Perazza is known for Philadelphia premieres. He has brought to area audiences the first Philadelphia performance of “Requiem” by Camille Saint Saens, The Short Passion of Daniel Pinkham, The Nine Lessons of Christmas by Pulitzer Prize winning composer John La Montaine and the haunting “Mess Di Requiem” of Ildebrando Pizetti.

While music director of St. Peter’s Church in Danbury, Connecticut, Louis founded the St. Peter Chamber Society, a forty member professional chamber orchestra. While Music Director, he and the St. Peter’s Professional Choir presented a full production of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (in addition to all the Beethoven Symphonies), and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 for orchestra, soloists and chorus. Every Christmas Season found Mr. Perazza directing a fully staged production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” He also was fortunate enough to record a concert with Julius Baker, former principal flutiest of the New York Philharmonic. In the summer of 1994, Louis traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia at the invitation of the Russian government to study conducting at the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music. There he conducted Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in the Hermitage Museum with the famous Hermitage Orchestra.

As an organ recitalist, Mr. Perazza has visited the organ lofts of Trenton Episcopal Cathedral, The Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Washington National Cathedral. St. Bede’s Roman Catholic Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, Calvery Episcopal Church, Summit, New Jersey, St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, Reading Pa. He was invited to play at the world renowned St. Thomas Church on Park Avenue, New York City, April of 2009 and the Cathedral of St. Phillip, Atlanta, Georgia, 2008 and Princeton University Chapel, October 2007. June of 2008, Louis was named artist in residence for St. Peter's Church in Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. Perazza was invited to perform at St. Mary's Cathedal, San Francisco in April of 2008. In addition, Louis is awaiting a date for Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark New Jersey and on June 28, 2009 Louis performed at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France. Mr Perazza traveled to Truro England to play at their Cathedral. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Los Angeles, CA. is also on his waiting list. In 2014 Louis will play at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York. Louis has been awarded the 2006 and 2007 JAMES WINSHIP LEWIS ENDOWED MEMORIAL PRIZE for outstanding musical contribution to the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

Louis Lawrence has served as librarian to both Maestro Eugene Ormandy and Ricardo Muti of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mr. Perazza served as Artistic Director of the Bucks County Motet Singers and has served as Organist of the Church of Saint Paul on Harvard Square,Cambridge, MA., and Associate Director of Music for the Boston Boy Choir School. He is currently organist and choir director of Christ Church, Ithan, located in beautiful Villanova, Pennsylvania. Visit Louis on the world wide web at www.louislawrence perazza.com