Artistic Staff
Below are bios of our Westmoreland Choral Society staff members.
Artistic Music Director
Dr. Thomas Octave
Dr. Thomas Octave has earned degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University and The Graduate Theological Foundation. As a conductor, Thomas is frequently seen in a multitude of varied genres of music. This year marks his fifteenth year as the music director of the Westmoreland Choral Society. At home in the theater, he has conducted numerous operas and musicals, He has collaborated with choreographer Maria Caruso, jazz legend Joe Negri, the River City Brass Band, prepared choruses for collaborations with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Saint Vincent College.
A champion of new music, Thomas has premiered several major works by composer Nancy Galbraith, including her “O Magnum Mysterium”, “God of Justice”, “Ave Maria”, “Music When Soft Voices Die”, “Novena”, “Lumen Christi”, and “Stabat Mater”. In demand as a clinician, he has presented workshops and guest conducted ensembles for Indiana University of Pennsylvania, John Carroll University, Carnegie Mellon University, Benet Academy, District, Region/State and County Choral Festivals, and workshops for local high schools.
Currently, Dr. Octave is the Director of Sacred Music for the Diocese of Greensburg, also the Music Director at Mother of Sorrows Parish Murrysville, and Artistic Director of Masterworks Concert Chorale. He is the Director of the Saint Paul of the Cross Retreat Center in Pittsburgh.
Assistant Music Director
Dr. Béla Pater
Dr. Béla Pater, who has been active in full-time music ministry for over three decades, and has been the Director of Music, Choir Director & Organist in the Diocese of Pittsburgh at various parishes since his high school years. After completing his post graduate degrees, including studying abroad, he relocated to Chicago where he was Director of Worship & Music in the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as the Artistic Director of the Chicago Boy Choir. Now back in Pittsburgh, he is at the parish of St. Raphael the Archangel, a merged parish of 3 churches, located in Carnegie, Greentree, Scott Township.
Béla has multiple degrees and certificates in organ, choral conducting, sacred music, liturgy, and theology from Duquesne University, Saint Joseph’s College, Universität Mozarteum (Salzburg, Austria), Goethe Institut (Bavaria, Germany) and the Pontificium Institutum Musicae Sacrae (Rome, Italy).
He has given organ recitals in Austria, Germany and Italy during his studies, as well as Chicago, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and New York. He feels blessed that his years of studies have endowed him with a variety of experiences, especially because he wishes to inspire congregations to enthusiastically participate at Mass.
Béla has studied and speaks several languages. His great love of music, languages and his heritage came from his immigrant grandparents who spoke Hungarian and German and were themselves musicians. Béla and his wife Karen make their home in the East End of Pittsburgh and their daughter is a senior at Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High School. His wife’s family is from Latrobe and Derry and is pleased to be a member of the Westmoreland Choral Society since 2017 and working with Tom over these years – first singing at St. Vincent “Messiah” yearly concerts to becoming a regular member of WCS. Thank you to our WCS chorus who supports our mission: bringing alive beautiful choral music to Westmoreland County.
ACCOMPANIST
Dr. Josie Merlino
Dr. Josie Merlino is excited to be back with the Westmoreland Choral Society and Youth Chorus. She currently teaches at Seton Hill University in the music department and serves as the music director at St. John in Delmont and St. Mary in Export. She plays with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and teaches piano lessons in her home as well. She’s looking forward to making beautiful music together this season.
YOUTH CHOIR DIRECTOR
Rachel Balog
Rachel (Read) Balog is excited to be directing the Youth Choir this year! She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Westminster College and went on to receive her Master of Music Education degree and Kodály Certification from Capital University. Rachel taught K–4 elementary music in the Norwin School District for nine years. After a fulfilling and successful start to her teaching career, she recently stepped away from the classroom to focus on raising her two young sons.
Rachel lives in Murrysville with her husband, Zach, and their two boys, Brooks and Beckham. She and Zach met while studying music in college, and music continues to be a central part of their lives. They both serve as cantors at their home parish, Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church. In addition to directing the Youth Choir, Rachel teaches Kindermusik at KCB Studios and is a fitness instructor at Pure Barre in Murrysville. She is passionate about fostering a lifelong love of music and cannot wait to share the joy of singing with the children of the Youth Choir!
YOUTH CHOIR ACCOMPANIST