Paul Thornock

Paul A. Thornock II is a native of Washington State. He earned the Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Puget Sound where he studied organ with the late Edward Hansen, and conducting with Paul Schultz. Mr. Thornock earned the Master of Music in Organ Performance and Literature degree at the University of Notre Dame as a student of Craig Cramer. While at Notre Dame, Paul was graduate assistant organist at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart under the direction of Gail Walton. Before moving to Columbus in November 1999, Paul served Saint Pius X Parish in Granger as Director of Liturgy and Music.

Mr. Thornock is currently Cathedral Director of Music and Diocesan Music Consultant in the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, Ohio. He conducts the semi-professional Cathedral Choir, the fully-professional Cathedral Schola, and serves as artistic director for the Cathedral Concerts series. In addition to his cathedral responsibilities, he serves as adjunct faculty at Capital University Conservatory of Music and has been the organist for the Lancaster Festival Orchestra since 2003. Mr. Thornock is also a member of the national steering committee for the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians.

Mr. Thornock has performed for several regional conventions of the American Guild of Organists, and was a recitalist for the 2008 national convention of the Organ Historical Society. His performances as an organist and conductor have been heard on With Heart and Voice. An entire Pipedreams program called "A Class Act in Columbus" was dedicated to Mr. Thornock's work with the cathedral choirs and organs.