Peter
Latona

eter Latona (b. 1968) is the Music Director for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington DC), the pre-eminent Marian shrine of the Catholic Church in the United States where, amid the largest collection of modern ecclesiastical art in the world, hundreds of thousands gather each year for worship and prayer.

An award-winning organist, Dr. Latona performs in the U.S. and in Europe, has presented workshops on improvisation, and has released a recording, An Organ Pilgrimage, on the Raven label, featuring all four pipe organs at the Basilica. As the conductor of the Choir of the Basilica, he released several recordings of sacred choral music, presented concerts in the US and abroad, and was featured on Public Radio International. Among the more recent recording projects, John Paul II: A Celebration of Life and Faith, combines spoken passages from the writings of the late pontiff with choral works highlighting the major themes of his pontificate, and Solemn Vespers with Pope Benedict XVI, recorded live at the Basilica during the Apostolic journey of His Holiness to the United States.

Active as a composer, Dr. Latona is published by CanticaNOVA Publications and Morningstar Music Publishers and received commissions from the Knights of Columbus, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston as well as by the Archdioceses of Washington and New York for the Apostolic visit of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the United States in 2008. Dr. Latona is a graduate of Bucknell University (B.Mus.), the Yale School of Music (M.Mus.), and the Manhattan School of Music (D.M.A.) He serves on the steering committee for the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians and is chair of the DCAGO Foundation.

CanticaNOVA Publications is pleased to offer Dr. Latona's music in our catalog:

• Ave Regina cælorum CNP Catalog #5291
• Christus vincit CNP Catalog #5292
• Easy Marian Motets CNP Catalog #5290

The National Shrine's website may be found at BNSIC