About

Composer/Organist/Conductor/Music Educator Carmine Lappano was born in Toronto, in 1977. He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Toronto in 2000, and his Bachelor of Education in 2004. During his time at U of T, he had the privilege of working with renowned Canadian composers Larysa Kuzmenko and Gary Kulesha. It was at this time that he began his work as a church musician, singing as a tenor lead in churches all over Toronto. He has worked with prominent composer/conductors such as Eleanor Daley, Matthew Larkin, Lydia Adams and Jerzy Chichocki. A member of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, Carmine has recently obtained the Professional Diploma in Choral Conducting from the college (CH. RCCO).

As a vocalist, Carmine sang with many important Canadian choirs, including The Elmer Iseler Singers. At that time, Carmine was fortunate to participate in many premiers of new works by Canadian composers, which inspired Carmine to begin to compose some of his own works. In 2006, Carmine began his first post as a Music Director at Guildwood Presbyterian Church in Scarborough. It was at this church that Carmine began to use his original music for the music ministry of the church, composing short anthems, introits, congregational prayers and blessings. After directorships at St. Nicholas Anglican in Scarborough and Trinity United Church in Bowmanville, Carmine has recently taken the position of Music Director at St George’s Memorial Anglican Church in Oshawa. Carmine is also the organist at Immaculate Conception Parish, Port Perry,  along with his wife, soprano Michelle Kettrick. Both Michelle and Carmine form a musical duo of keyboards and vocals called Keys and Kords.

Carmine has had several pieces published with Cypress Choral Music, as well as Renforth Music. In 2021, Carmine won first prize in the RCCO Organ Festival Hymn Competition. More recently, Carmine’s entry “Arise, Arise” for SATB a capella choir,  was selected as the winner of the Chronos Vocal Ensemble’s Composition Competition. For several years, Carmine has been providing his own compositions for the churches where he has worked, for specific liturgical purposes. Many of these pieces are available on this website.

Carmine teaches for the Durham Catholic District School Board, as a Secondary Vocal and Instrumental Music Teacher. He lives in Whitby with his wife and his three lovely children. He is a fitness fanatic, enjoying sports such as soccer, basketball, squash, yoga and golf. When he is not tending to his busy schedule, Carmine is completely engaged in a fantasy basketball league which he contributes perhaps a bit too much of his time. He is a huge Raptor fan, and also a fan of the Italian National Soccer team.