Music is an important part of the liturgical life of St. Mary’s.

Meet our Director of Sacred Music, Theresa Pancella

Born and raised a Catholic in St. Louis as the oldest of three children and the daughter of a liturgical musician, Theresa Pancella has been a musician for most of her life. She graduated from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in December 2020 with a degree in Music Theory, which will not make her much money but does make her a huge nerd. She studied music theory with Dr. Zachary Cairns, voice with Dr. Leslie Allnatt Mallory, and choral conducting with Dr. Jim Henry, but she is largely self-taught on the piano, organ, and guitar.

She captained her high school and college choirs as a section leader and recently served as the secretary of UMSL’s choral program for the 2019-2020 school year. She was a Choral Scholar and cantor at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis for four years under the direction of Dr. Horst Buchholz and has been working around the Archdiocese of St. Louis as a cantor and accompanist since 2014.

She is a classically trained soprano with a wide range who has sung a number of masterworks, played in a band, led music on high school retreats, and performed with St. Louis’ only professional early music ensemble. Theresa is also very passionate about and well versed in Gregorian chant and liturgical polyphony, which are some of her favorite things to sing and to teach. Recently, she has also begun teaching private vocal lessons.

Although her college career closed with live-streamed concerts, a recorded vocal recital, and a virtual graduation, she is optimistic that her choral and musical career will continue to blossom in years to come, but her ultimate goal is to be a mom and raise some musical, nerdy children.

Theresa can be reached at 618-465-4284 x254, or at [email protected]

Theresa’s personal website 

Theresa-Sings.com - My personal website, theresa-sings.com, is where more information can be found about my offering of private vocal lessons and vocal coaching.