Wednesday, October 29, 2003
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Wednesday, October 29, 2003 |
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St. Gabriel's Catholic Church names new music director Andy Hoeckele, formerly with St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church in Lilburn, has joined the staff of the Catholic Church of St. Gabriel in Fayetteville as its new music director. He will be responsible for all music activities at the church, including directing both the adult and children’s choirs and planning all music for the parish of more than 600 families. Mrs. Amy Metzger, director of the Life Teen Band, will maintain her position as leader of that group. Hoeckele comes to the Fayetteville community with an extended list of accomplishments in the music field, both as a singer and a director. He also has produced and directed several major musicals, including “Camelot” and “Oliver.” He and his wife moved to Atlanta after ten years of teaching music in Long Island, N.Y., where he directed a large high school choir, coordinated district choral festivals and worked with famed musicals. He holds both a B.S. and M.A. in secondary education music. In Atlanta, Hoeckele sang in several vocal groups, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Stone Mountain Barbershop Choir. “I am thoroughly enjoying working with the parishioners of St. Gabriel,” Hoeckele said. “The entire group is very friendly and has made me feel so welcome in the community.” As for his plans for music at the church, Hoeckele said, “I want to provide inspirational and motivational music for the congregation while developing a strong Christ-based choral repertoire for the choir. I want to enhance the musical experiences of the choir through sound choral training.” Hoeckele said that after working with the youth choir for a couple of weeks, he was pleased with their enthusiasm and good behavior. “I commend the parents for all their work in developing strong ethics and spirituality at such an early age,” he said. St. Gabriel’s is at 153
Antioch Rd. off Ga. Hwy. 92 south. Masses are celebrated each Saturday
at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Life Teen Mass is at 5 p.m.
Sunday.
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