THE BASILICA CHOIR is the resident professional choir-in-residence at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida. It was formed to minister to the many thousands of Central Florida tourists who attend Mass at the Basilica, and to provide the very best in liturgical choral music. The Choir’s members come from all parts of the United States, and have extensive choral experience.
With a wide repertoire ranging from the ancient chants of the church to contemporary works written especially for them, the Basilica Choir is one of the treasures of Central Florida.
Elizabeth Garozzo soprano (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan)
Catherine Harrover soprano (Kenosha, Wisconsin)
Joelle Del Orbe-Just alto (Orlando, Florida)
Sarah Whittemore alto (Greensboro, North Carolina)
Joseph Lamy tenor (Cocoa Beach, Florida)
Marshall Webb tenor (Tampa, Florida)
Chris Barletta baritone (Ipswich, Massachusetts)
Jacob Fullerton bass Roscoe, Georgia
WILLIAM PICHER, DMA, AAGO (Director) was born to a musical family in Portland, Maine and began taking organ lessons at the age of 7 with his father, Frank Picher. At age 13, he began study of trumpet, and has continued playing both instruments throughout his career.
Dr. Picher holds music degrees from the University of Maine, Eastman School of Music and Catholic University of America. He served for eight years as a trumpet instrumentalist with the United States Navy Band in Washington DC, where he performed regularly at the White House, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and in many of the great concert halls throughout the United States. He has played trumpet with the Florida Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, the Bach Festival Society, the Mt. Vernon Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, as well as at Walt Disney World, where he has also served as conductor, organist, vocal coach and rehearsal pianist.
As an organist and choral director, Dr. Picher has served as director of music ministries at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Portland, Maine) and the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle (St. Petersburg, Florida) before assuming his current position at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe (Orlando, Florida), where he has served since 2001.
In 2000, Dr. Picher was awarded the St. Jude Medal by Most Rev. Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, in recognition for his service to the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle and the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
Dr. Picher has served on the music faculty of the University of Maine, University of Southern Maine, St. Petersburg Junior College, Pinellas County Center for the Arts, Florida Southern College, and he was also the house organist at Portland, Maine's historic State Theatre, where he played the Mighty Wurlitzer for silent movies, and other events. Classical organ recital performances have included Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago), St. Mary's Cathedral (San Francisco), and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington DC), the National Cathedral (Washington DC) and many others.
A composer member of B.M.I., and an Associate of the American Guild of Organists, Dr. Picher has also produced several published works for brass ensembles. Several CD recordings of him playing both organ and trumpet, as well directing the Basilica Choir have been released on the Stemik label.
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