St. Gabriel's Catholic Church names new music director

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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