Paul Salamunovich facts for kids
Paul Salamunovich (June 7, 1927 – April 3, 2014) was a famous American conductor and teacher. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his music.
He led the Los Angeles Master Chorale as Music Director from 1991 to 2001. After that, he was their Music Director Emeritus until he passed away in 2014. For 60 years, from 1949 to 2009, he was the Director of Music at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood, California. He also taught music at several universities in Southern California.
Paul Salamunovich was known worldwide for leading nearly 1,000 music festivals and workshops. He was an expert in Gregorian chant, which is a type of ancient church music. He received high honors for his work in sacred music, including being made a knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Paul VI in 1969. In 2013, he received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, the highest award the Pope gives to people who are not priests.
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Paul Salamunovich's Early Life and Music Journey
Growing Up and Finding Music
Paul Salamunovich was the youngest of five brothers. His parents came from what is now Croatia. He was born in Redondo Beach, California. A special moment happened when he was about 8 years old. He heard a beautiful song called "Sancta Maria" from the Vittoria Ave Maria during a newsreel at the movies. He loved it so much that he watched the films again just to hear it one more time! This song later became one of his favorite pieces to conduct.
When a young priest started a boys' choir at his church, Paul joined. He said, "I was hooked." This choir sang only Gregorian chant. Paul felt that this early experience with chant greatly influenced his music and conducting style.
In 1940, when Paul was 13, his family moved to Hollywood, California. He joined the choir at their new church, Blessed Sacrament. The choir director, Richard Keys Biggs, was impressed by Paul's singing. Paul continued to sing in the choir even after starting at Hollywood High School. At age 14, he began singing with the famous choral director Roger Wagner.
At Hollywood High, Paul met Dorothy Hilton, who became his high school sweetheart. They married in 1950 and had five children. After graduating in 1945, Paul joined the United States Navy and served for a year in Pearl Harbor.
Singing and Leading Choirs
After the Navy, Paul returned to Southern California. Roger Wagner invited him to join his new Los Angeles Concert Youth Chorus. This group later became the Roger Wagner Chorale. Wagner encouraged Paul to study music at Los Angeles City College.
Paul became a professional singer, performing and recording with famous conductors like Arturo Toscanini and Igor Stravinsky. He sang on many film soundtracks from 1946 to 1964. As he took on more conducting jobs, he stopped studio singing. He then began arranging and conducting choral parts for films for the next 45 years.
In 1949, Roger Wagner asked 21-year-old Paul to become the choir director at St. Charles Borromeo Church. Paul was nervous because he had no conducting experience. But he accepted, and this became his first conducting job.
For sixty years, Paul led the St. Charles Choir. They sang for regular church services and at many important events. They even sang for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and in St. Peter's Square in Rome. They were the only American choir invited to sing at such an event. The St. Charles Choir also performed on movie soundtracks like "Flatliners" and "The Godfather". Paul even taught actor Robert De Niro how to sing Latin for a movie!
Paul Salamunovich retired from St. Charles in June 2009 after 60 years.
Leading the Los Angeles Master Chorale
Paul also taught at Mount St. Mary's College and Loyola Marymount University. At Loyola Marymount, he built a top-notch choral program. He received an honorary doctorate from LMU and was inducted into their Faculty Hall of Fame.
He was an assistant conductor for the Roger Wagner Chorale and later for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He prepared the Master Chorale for performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and many famous conductors.
In 1991, Paul Salamunovich became the Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He wanted to bring back the special sound the choir had before. He aimed for a warmer, richer, and more blended sound. This unique sound became known as the "Salamunovich Sound." He could achieve this sound with any group he conducted, no matter their skill level.
Paul led the Los Angeles Master Chorale for ten years. He chose a wide variety of music, from old Renaissance pieces to modern works. He worked closely with composer Morten Lauridsen, who wrote many pieces especially for the Master Chorale and Paul, including "O Magnum Mysterium" and "Lux Aeterna". Paul was also known for his interpretations of French composer Maurice Duruflé's music.
When he retired from the Master Chorale in 2001, he was named Music Director Emeritus. He continued to be a popular guest conductor and teacher around the world. In 2003, he led the St. Petersburg Philharmonic in Rome.
Later Life and Legacy
In September 2013, Paul Salamunovich became ill with the West Nile virus. He fought the illness for seven months but passed away on April 3, 2014, at age 86. His funeral was held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood and was attended by over a thousand people. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Paul Salamunovich's Choral Legacy
Paul Salamunovich was known for getting his unique "Salamunovich Sound" from any choir he led, whether they were professionals, college students, or church choirs. He could do this even with very little rehearsal time. His rehearsals were like performances themselves, where he used vivid descriptions to help singers understand the sound he wanted.
Because he often conducted church choirs while playing the organ, he learned to use his facial expressions to communicate with the singers. He believed that singing was like acting, and facial expressions added more drama to the music. When he conducted without an organ, he used both his hands and face for clear communication.
Paul's successful international career as a choral teacher shows how amazing he was at teaching music. Interestingly, Paul never planned to be a conductor. Every job or invitation he accepted was offered to him; he never asked for a position. He also never formally studied conducting but learned by doing.
His first job as a church choir conductor is usually an entry-level position. Yet, Paul kept that first job his entire career while also becoming one of America's top choral conductors. He always made sure his international and national conducting duties fit around his church schedule so he could be at St. Charles every Sunday.
Many of his students now lead choirs around the world. Admiral Michael Mullen, who became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that his experiences singing in Paul's boy choir greatly helped him succeed in his career. Even though Paul never used a computer, his former students created a Facebook page dedicated to him, sharing stories, photos, and recordings. Paul Salamunovich's marked music scores, photos, and letters are kept at the University of Southern California Library for study.
Teaching Positions
- Mount St. Mary's College: Music teacher for 18 years.
- Loyola Marymount University: Music teacher (1964–1990), Director of Choral Activities. He was named Professor Emeritus in 1993 and was one of the first people inducted into the Loyola Marymount Faculty Hall of Fame in 2012.
- USC Thornton School of Music: Adjunct Professor of Choral Music, Director of the USC Thornton Chamber Choir (2007–2008).
He also received honorary doctorates from Loyola Marymount University and the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota). He taught 831 clinics and workshops across the U.S., Canada, South America, the Bahamas, Europe, Australia, and the Far East.
Performances for the Pope
Paul Salamunovich led the St. Charles Borromeo choir in several performances for Pope John Paul II:
- In 1988, they sang at a special Mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome. They were the only American choir ever invited to sing at this event.
- In 1987, they performed at the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana to welcome the Pope to Los Angeles.
- In 1985, they sang for the Pope in a private meeting at the Vatican Palace.
Music Recordings and DVDs
Recordings with Los Angeles Master Chorale
- Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen (nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998).
- Dominic Argento's Te Deum and Missa "Cum Jubilo" by Maurice Duruflé.
- Christmas, a collection of holiday songs.
Recordings with Los Angeles Philharmonic
- Claude Debussy, Trois nocturnes and La Damoiselle élue, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
- Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 3, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Recordings with Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
- Rodgers & Hammerstein, The King & I, conducted by John Mauceri.
- Schoenberg/Ravel, Earth Day, conducted by John Mauceri.
- Hollywood Nightmares (various composers), conducted by John Mauceri.
DVD
- "Choral Perspectives: Paul Salamunovich, Chant and Beyond" (2007), a documentary about his work.
Film and TV Work
Paul Salamunovich was involved in the choral music for over 100 films and TV shows. These include The Godfather, Angels and Demons, Air Force One, A.I., ER, and Cirque du Soleil's Journey of Man. He even coached actor Robert De Niro on how to sing Latin for the movie True Confessions.
His St. Charles Borromeo choir appeared with Henry Mancini and Doc Severinsen on the NBC Christmas Eve Special The Sounds of Christmas. His St. Charles Boy's Choir was featured on The Lucy Show and with Dinah Shore on the Chevy Show. They also sang as the Disneyland Boys Choir on the original Disney album, It's A Small World.
Awards and Special Recognition
- Knight Commander of The Order of St Gregory the Great in 1969.
- "Distinguished Artist Award" from the Music Center of Los Angeles County in 1995.
- "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the American Choral Directors Association in 2000.
- Grammy nomination for his recording of "Lux Aeterna" in 1997.
- Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, the highest Papal award for non-clergy, in 2013.
Images for kids
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Paul Salamunovich conducting The Los Angeles Master Chorale and Sinfonia Orchestra in 1992
