Philip Faraone, KGCHS

Philip Faraone is a native Rhode Islander who began piano studies at age 5 and organ studies at age 11 when he became his parish organist. Mr. Faraone’s university studies began at Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois, and continued at Rhode Island College, where he obtained his Masters Degree. Mr. Faraone also studied at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford while pursuing an Artist Diploma in Voice and a DMA in Choral Conducting.

In 1985, Mr. Faraone performed a concert tour of England with performances in Manchester, Bolton, and London. Mr. Faraone began his tenure at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in 1990 as the accompanist of the Gregorian Concert Choir under the direction of the Reverend Monsignor Anthony Mancini. Mr. Faraone was named Cathedral Organist in 1997 — the same year in which he performed for the first time in Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Mr. Faraone returned with the Gregorian Concert Choir to Rome in 2000, when he performed at all four of the major basilicas as well as a recital given at the famous Santa Maria, Piazza del Popolo, for which he was awared the Annual Prize by the Akkademia dei Prossimali. Mr. Faraone has also conducted choirs on three tours throughout Italy, for which he was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Province of Rome, for both his work and dedication to youth through music.

Mr. Faraone has also performed on many other tours throughout Italy with the Gregorian Concert Choir, including the Basilica of Saint Mark, Venice. Mr. Faraone has served as a high school choir director for over thirty years, and has also taught music history, music theory, and humanities. Besides his work at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Mr. Faraone serves as Music Director of The Prout School, Wakefield, Rhode Island, a co-educational Catholic college preparatory high school.

Mr. Faraone has also performed throughout the United States and Canada with notable concerts, including three performances at the Basilica National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C., Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, New York City, McGill University, Montreal, and many others.

Mr. Faraone has also served as Dean of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Mr. Faraone is a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, with the rank of Knight Grand Cross. He resides with his wife Deborah and his children, Gaetano and Norma Ann.