The Higher Word Orchestra

Our 50-member Christian orchestra that showcases the beauty of Catholicism through classical music and the lives of the composers who wrote it

Have you ever experienced music that moved you to tears, that transported you to another world? What is it about music that touches our souls in a way like nothing else?

ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA

Led by conductor Jacob Beranek, the Higher Word Orchestra performs excerpts from symphonies, concertos, and other beloved classical repertoire interspersed with reflections by priests and discussions of the composers’ lives by Higher Word’s music directors, Jacob Beranek and Christa Dalmazio. Our concerts have taken place in several of New York City’s beautiful Catholic churches, including St. Agnes, St. Anthony of Padua, and the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, and are often accompanied by a pre-concert reception and post-concert afterparty that enhance the social aspect of the evening, drawing New York’s wide-ranging audiences—families, young and old—together in community. Entirely grassroots, non-profit, and sustained by private donations, the Higher Word Orchestra counts among its members professionals as well as students from the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and New York University, who believe in our core message: music is a revelation of God’s beauty on Earth.

OUR ORCHESTRA’S MISSION

The Higher Word Orchestra is on a mission to revitalize culture by performing masterpieces of classical music from a Catholic perspective in a Catholic context. We seek to highlight the continuity of Catholicism throughout the history of classical music by programming Catholic composers wherever possible, performing in Catholic churches, and hiring musicians who share our love of Christ and are committed to spreading the Good News through Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

From our conductor . . .

“Why does some music—oftentimes even music without words—move us to such great emotional depth? How can something be communicated directly to our souls that is so profound and so mysterious? Our souls leap like St. John in the womb when they encounter Beauty, because God encodes a love for Beauty in us when He creates us. God is the Creator of all, and His work is Good. When God gives us the ability to create, He does so in His image. In our modern times, culture has largely abandoned its Guiding Star, its Source: Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh. It is He to Whom we sing with the choirs of angels: Holy, Holy, Holy! Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. We invite you to join us.”

—Jacob Beranek

CLICK HERE TO WATCH OUR ENTIRE EASTER 2025 RISE AGAIN CONCERT ON EWTN.

EVANGELIZATION COMPONENT

Crucial to our mission is evangelization through beauty. We challenge the secular point of view that sees music as an end in itself. Instead of worshipping the music, we worship the Creator behind the music.

But oftentimes, classical music can seem foreign, complicated, or even boring. Yet, as the Church has maintained throughout the centuries, the Christian attitude towards reverence and beauty is one which strives for the highest excellence. We emphasize an educational component in all our concerts to invite audiences into a deeper understanding of the music and its context.

Did you know that Dvořák was a daily Mass attending Catholic? Did you know Haydn had to sneak away to the Portuguese Embassy in London to attend Mass when England’s strict anti-Catholic laws prohibited public worship? Did you know Beethoven was fascinated by Eucharist hymns and had a deathbed reversion to the Catholic faith of his youth? These are just a handful of the stories that you might hear alongside these composers’ music at one of our events.

MUSIC LEADERSHIP

Jacob Beranek, Music Director & Orchestra Conductor

Christa Dalmazio, Music Director & Chorus Conductor

Connor Morrissey, Associate Conductor

EXECUTIVE AND OPERATIONS TEAM

Spencer McIntosh, Executive Director & Co-Founder

Nicholas Sam, Operations Director & Co-Founder

Christa Dalmazio, Personnel Manager

Amanda Beranek, Orchestral Librarian

ARTISTIC ADVISORY

Jacob Beranek

Daniel Bosko

Christa Dalmazio

Spencer McIntosh

Connor Morrissey

Nicholas Sam

Higher Word Orchestra Leadership

  • Christa Dalmazio

    MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CHOIR CONDUCTOR

    Christa Dalmazio is a classical and sacred musician and soprano who performs on the piano, organ, harp, viola, and violin. She received Encouragement Awards from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in 2018, 2019 and 2020. She also teaches private music lessons, she is the Music Director of Pivot Theater Company in Holmdel NJ, the Director of The Academy of Our Lady Sacred Music Choir in Glen Rock NJ, is the Director of Music at Holy Innocents Church in Neptune NJ, and the Middle and High School Music Director of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Boonton, N.J. Christa graduated from Manhattan School of Music with Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees in Vocal Performance, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at MSM, studying with Catherine Malfitano.

  • Jacob Beranek

    MUSIC DIRECTOR AND ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR

    Jacob Beranek is a Wisconsin-born, New York-based composer, pianist, and conductor, currently pursuing his doctorate in composition at The Juilliard School as a student of John Corigliano. His compositions frequently invoke his Catholic faith and have been performed around the world, from Hong Kong to London, including venues such as Prague Castle, Oxford University, Alice Tully Hall, and Canterbuy Cathedral. As a conductor, Beranek was asked to guest conduct the Wisconsin Philharmonic in a performance of his music in May 2024, and as a scholar, he has delivered numerous lectures and preconcert talks focusing on music history and the compositional process. He is a recipient of the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Learn more at www.BeranekMusic.com.

  • Daniel Bosko

    ARTISTIC ADVISOR

    From Valley Stream, NY, Dan studied clarinet and bass guitar at a young age.  He attended Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens, where he began performing and arranging music for jazz ensemble, concert band, and choir.  He received a B.A. in Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, with concentrations in double bass performance and music education. Dan currently serves as the band director for several Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, and is an active performing artist in and around the NY area.

Join our Orchestra

If you play a musical instrument, sing, or have interest in helping out our orchestra in any other way, please reach out using the form below or emailing directly at info@higherword.org