"Hi, I'm Daniel L., Music Director, Cantor & Music Teacher at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rockdale and for the Latin Mass Community of Joliet, (Which rents out Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Naperville weekly). I have more than 20 years experience as a vocalist and private lesson instructor and have a great passion for teaching musicians of any instrument and all ages on how to practically apply music theory and ear training; how to sight reading at a performance level; improvising in classical, jazz, and popular music of all genera; composing/arranging in any style, as well as couching ensembles and developing repertoire and general musical skills for real life professional gigging and permanent performance positions.

I originally studied percussion, trumpet, guitar and voice in my youth and pursued a jazz trumpet performance & music education degree, as well as exercising my vocal skills at Roosevelt University in Chicago before moving on to study philosophy out of state. In my early adulthood I gigged as a trumpet player, guitarist, bass guitarist, (electric & upright), and vocalist in jazz, funk, salsa, rock, pop, classical and liturgical settings. After dropping trumpet as my primary instrument, I continued to perform as a vocalist and to teach both privately and in group settings in the Chicagoland area through my twenties and thirties. After a brief stint in Rome, Italy working in politics I returned to Chicago and began my position as Director of Music under Father Michael Magiera, a highly decorated professional opera singer turned priest, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rockdale. I regularly perform solo and lead small groups and I am thoroughly versed in, not only the many modern styles of music, but uniquely very early music - and more specifically Gregorian Chant and Renaissance polyphony. I look forward to working with any potential students so please do not hesitate to ask me any questions you might have!

I am a very experienced performer, having gigged in the pop, jazz, rock, and" less...