Mary Catherine Levri Earns Doctorate

Mary Catherine Levri successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, "The Chant-based Organ Works of Anton Heiller," at the University of Notre Dame in early July. She will graduate from Notre Dame in August with a Doctor of Musical Arts.

Anton Heiller was a Catholic composer and organist in 20th century Vienna. A man of devout faith, Heiller was a model composer of sacred music, a characteristic which was especially reflected in his ability to combine the old styles of the tradition with the musical languages of modern times. In her dissertation, Mary Catherine argued that in his chant-based organ compositions, Heiller drew on the works of an array of composers across sacred music history, from Nicolas De Grigny and J.S. Bach to Olivier Messiaen and Jehan Alain.

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is the degree needed to qualify for a wide range of leadership positions in academic music departments and in large churches and cathedrals. While a PhD in music reflects a specialization in music history or music theory, a DMA qualifies a person to perform music at the highest level and to teach music performance in an academic setting.

Fr. Benedict O’Cinnsealaigh, president and rector said, “We are very fortunate that God has given us the gift of Mary Catherine as the director of Sacred Music at the seminary and we are very proud of her accomplishment in receiving the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame. There is no doubt that Mary Catherine is an outstanding musician, teacher and scholar but over the last year she has also become a much loved teacher to her students and friend to her colleagues and peers. She is a delightful lady. I hope she is with us here at the Athenaeum for many years.”

Mary Catherine will begin her second year of teaching and directing the music program at the Athenaeum this August.

Congratulations Mary Catherine!

Photo Credit: Gloria Ann Castleman.