Biography

Gabriel has been active in the field of Byzantine Music since 2011, when he first began composing under the direction of Fr. Romanos Karanos, PhD, his first teacher in the Psaltic Art. Gabriel holds two degrees from Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA: a Bachelor's in Theology (as valedictorian of the class of 2014), and a Certificate in Byzantine Music (with a grade of "perfect"). In addition to his studies at Holy Cross, Gabriel also spent a year and a half in Athens, Greece, where he took private lessons in Byzantine chant performance, musicology, and composition from masters of the art, including George Hatzichronoglou, Archon Hymnodist of the Great Church of Christ, and Dr. Ioannis Arvanitis, one of the foremost musicologists and composers of Byzantine Music today. During his time in Greece, he also sang with the choir “Maistores of the Psaltic Art,” under the direction of Dr. Achilleas Chaldaiakes. Gabriel currently works full-time as the Music Director and Pastoral Assistant at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Albuquerque. He teaches private lessons and several online courses in Byzantine Chant for the Trisagion School of Byzantine Music, of which he is a co-founder, and also works by commission for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, AGES Initiatives, and several other Church music organizations, while collaborating with other chanters on various projects to teach, spread, and promote Byzantine Chant in English. He has taught at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology as a Lecturer in Byzantine Music, and also at the Metropolis of Boston "St. John of Damascus" Byzantine Music School.