MUSIC STAFF
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Dr. Michael Conrady, AAGODirector of Music
Organist and ChoirmasterAs Director of Music, Michael Conrady oversees a thriving program known for its musical excellence. During his tenure, the ministry has grown to include four adult choirs, a children's choir program, a contemporary worship ensemble, a cantor ministry, and an active concert schedule. Dr. Conrady received his Bachelors Degree at Baylor University where he studied organ with Joyce Jones. While at Baylor, he was the First Place winner of the 1998 William Hall Organ Competition. His graduate degrees include the Masters of Music (MM) in organ, the Masters of Theological Studies (MTS), and the Masters of Sacred Music (MTS) from Southern Methodist University (SMU). While at SMU, he studied harpsichord and organ with Larry Palmer, sacred music with Michael Hawn and Chris Anderson, and conducting with David R. Davidson. He then continued graduate work at the University of North Texas, where he studied organ with Jesse Eschbach for two years, focusing on 18th-century performance practices of France and Germany. Returning to SMU, he studied Liturgics with Mark Stamm and completed the Doctor of Ministry degree in 2019. Dr. Conrady's doctoral research project culminated in a thesis on medieval communion antiphons and the composition of new music for use in the Roman Catholic liturgy. In 2019, he joined the faculty of the University of North Texas School of Music as Instructor of Sacred Music.
In addition to parish ministry and teaching, Michael enjoys concertizing, composing liturgical music, and serving on a number of professional organizations in the fields of music, liturgy, and theology. Dr. Conrady was certified as an Associate of the American Guild of Organists (AAGO) in 2007 and currently serves the Guild as Education Coordinator for the Southwest Region. He has served on the Dallas Diocesan Liturgical Commission and the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Places, and he served as Organist for the Diocesan Choir from 2014-17. He is active in the Hymn Society of United States and Canada. He co-presented the Opening Hymn Festival at the 2019 convention and has taught seminars on liturgy and music at previous annual conventions.
Assistant Director of Music
Michael Soto
Michael Soto is excited to be returning to St. Thomas Aquinas as Assistant Director of Music. A native of El Paso, Michael studied organ performance, linguistics, and French at the University of Texas at Austin. His passion for French music then took him to Paris, where he spent two years teaching English and delving into the works of Maurice Duruflé at Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, the composer’s own church. His international experience continued with a year in Tunisia as an English Language Fellow with the U.S. State Department. During that time, he served the Cathedral of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Tunis, where he had the unique opportunity to play the country's last known extant pipe organ. Before his return to Texas, Michael was active in the vibrant music and arts scene in Chicago as a soloist, accompanist, and photographer. From 2019 to 2021, he held the position of Organ Scholar at St. Thomas Aquinas while pursuing his Master’s in organ performance at the University of North Texas.
Currently, Michael is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ and harpsichord performance under the guidance of Jesse Eschbach and Brad Bennight. During his five years at UNT, he has played continuo in the UNT baroque orchestra, he has been a teaching fellow for the music theory and keyboard divisions, and he is the current accompanist of Vox Aquilae, UNT’s early music choir. In the fall of 2023, Michael presented a pair of recitals that showcased a rich tapestry of French organ and harpsichord music from the Renaissance to the Revolution, featuring works from four generations of the Couperin family. Beyond the organ and harpsichord, Michael is also a violist and has a keen interest in free reed instruments. He is currently completing the restoration of a 19th-century harmonium, which he looks forward to sharing with the Dallas community.
Dave MooreDirector of the New Music Initiative
Dave Moore is a singer-songwriter who has traveled all across the country singing contemporary and traditional songs of praise. He grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he started his own sound production company and recording studio in 2007. After earning a degree in Sound Recording Technology, Dave took his music to a new level, and began commuting to Nashville for touring and writing between 2011 and 2013. Following the completion of his 4th full-length album, he turned his focus toward writing and recording liturgical music, as well as developing liturgical resources.
Dave married the love of his life, Lauren, in 2013. Together they began writing music and singing full time. While they continue to travel for performances, they are very excited to make St. Thomas Aquinas their home base.
You can find Dave and his team leading worship at the 7:30 p.m. Sunday Mass, Pange Lingua - St. Thomas Aquinas’ monthly night of worship - as well as at retreats for middle school, high school, and young adults of the parish.
Dave’s goal as a liturgical leader at St. Thomas is “to create an atmosphere that leaves the heart vulnerable to God through prayer and music.” He strives to write and choose music that reflects the beauty of God while encouraging congregational worship.
"It is my hope and direction that everything I do will be for or from the heart of God."
For more information on Dave, feel free to visit his website: www.davemooremusic.com
Monica Spence
Director of Children's Choirs
Monica Israel Spence is a Dallas native and a lifelong avid choral singer. She earned music degrees from the Catholic University of America and George Mason, and has sung at Catholic, Yale, and George Mason under the batons of Leo Nestor, Helmuth Rilling, Murray Sidlin, and Erwin Ortner. Since returning to Dallas, she has continued to be a chorister herself in ensembles around the city, including the Dallas Bach Society and Dallas Symphony Chorus. She is delighted to be directing the St. Thomas Aquinas children’s choirs and teaching music at the lower school this year.