About Us- artistic personnel
Music Director
Conductor Thomas Octave has earned degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University. As a conductor, Thomas is frequently seen a multitude of varied genres of music. At home in the theater, he has conducted numerous operas and musicals. Most recently, his collaboration with the Theater Department of Indiana University of Pennsylvania production of “A Year With Frog and Toad” earned a Kennedy Center nomination. In recent years, he has collaborated with jazz legend Joe Negri in performances of “Mass of Hope” and this season will premier Negri’s “Magnificat”.
A champion of new music, Thomas has premiered several major works by composer Nancy Galbraith, including her “O Magnum Mysterium”, “God of Justice”, “Novena” and “Lumen Christi”. In demand as a clinician he has presented workshops and guest conducted ensembles for Indiana University of Pennsylvania, John Carroll University, Benet Academy and for local high schools. He has also served as the director of music for the Diocesan Choir of Greensburg, the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, and La Roche College Campus Ministry. Thomas has presented music for the First Lady of Uganda, and The Queen of Jordan upon their visits to the Pacem In Terris Institute. He has also served as the assistant conductor of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh presenting with Maestro Thomas Douglas the Pittsburgh premiers of Bernstein’s “Mass” and David Chesky’s “The Agnostic”.
Currently, Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Saint Vincent College where he conducts the Saint Vincent College Singers, and teaches courses in voice, musical theater, and opera and Chair of the music department. He is also the music director for Beit Benedict Peace Academy of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem and is music director of the Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra. This season he continues with the Westmoreland Choral Society as their music director for their 41st Season as the third music director in the Society’s history. He is also the happy husband of Elizabeth who is a math teacher in the Butler School District.
Nancy Finke Sheehan
Nancy Finke Sheehan engages communities, churches, and local musicians through her work as an accompanist, church musician, piano teacher, and choir director. She is excited to be part of the Westmoreland Choral Society’s upcoming season! Ms. Sheehan also serves as a staff accompanist for vocal and instrumental students at Duquesne University, and accompanies the CCAC Boyce Campus Choir. Recent projects include playing for vocal students at the Larry Cervi School of Performing Arts in Monroeville and for Franklin Regional High School’s performance in Westmoreland County’s Night of the Stars at the Palace Theater in Greensburg.
Currently, Ms. Sheehan is director of the adult and children’s choirs at Christ’s Lutheran Church in Murrysville, where she has designed several unique worship services, often in collaboration with other musicians. This past year, she created and produced a series of four concerts at the church and served as musical director for two of the concerts, From the Sacred to the Scary and Songs from Godspell and other Sacred Songs.
Working from her home studio in Plum, Ms. Sheehan teaches piano students of all ages. Her students have been heard at Borders and local nursing homes, and have achieved superior ratings each year in NFMC’s Junior Festival held at Duquesne University.
During her time as choral director at Leechburg Area High School, Ms. Sheehan expanded the choral program, building enrollment, creating several new ensembles, and collaborating with the instrumental department. Her choirs toured and performed in Toronto, Chicago, and Virginia. Outstanding students had the opportunity to participate in PMEA choral festivals, and several were selected to perform in the Pennsylvania All-State Choir. She was also vocal director and accompanist for many musicals at the high school, including Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Footloose, Hello Dolly!, The Music Man, and The Wizard of Oz.
Ms. Sheehan graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Seton Hill University, and continued her studies at Duquesne University and the University of Iowa, where she studied piano with James Avery and Carole Lesniak. She is a member of ACDA, PPTA, MENC, PMEA, NFMC, and Choristers Guild. Besides making music, she loves spending time with her husband Ed, children Joe, Jeremy and Sabrina, and her dog Bailey!
Nancy Galbraith www.nancygalbraith.com
Luke Mayernik, Composer in Residence www.lukemayernik.com