John G. Ligda
Bio

I was born and raised on the the south side of Chicago. The son of Steve Ligda Sr. (Gary, Indiana) and Winifred Gardener (Chicago, Illinois), I am the youngest of four. I have been the product of parochial education my entire life, having attended Most Holy Redeemer Parish elementary school and graduating from Brother Rice High School in 2000. I recently graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in music, with a concentration in Church Music and Liturgy from Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana in May 2004. I am currently pursuing the Master of Arts degree in Music from Saint Joseph's College, Rensselaer.

Music has always been a driving force in my life. As a child, I longed to take piano lessons, but my mother refused to allow me to take lessons, assuming that my desire would fade away like it had done in two of my siblings. Needless to say, mom was wrong. Until she gave into me when I was elevin or twelve, I began teaching myself how to play piano by ear. When I was in the eigth grade, I began playing the 8:30 a.m. daily mass at a neighboring parish. It was during this time that I became aquainted with the organ and eventually took lessons through a program at the archdiocese.

All though high school, I developed my musical skills by playing the organ and piano for several area catholic churches in the Chicagoland area. I was the keyboardist for my high school liturgical ensemble and the part-time organist at Saint Bernadette Parish in Evergreen Park.

Also during high school, I became involved in the media services department where I gained vaulable engineering skills and learned video production. I later became active in my local government and community access channels and over time started to freelance as a technician for the local cable company. I am experienced in mobile video production and have produced videos for the Village of Evergreen Park, Representative Tom Dart (The 28th Legislative District - State of Illinois), and the Chicago Fire Reserves of the United Soccer League's PDL division.

During the summer of 2002, I fulfilled an Internship at the Hallmark SportsClub, LLC. in Frankfort, Illinois, where I assisted in the creation of a production department that was responsible for in-house productions, including commercial creation/Ad-Insertion, and sports productions. In our first four months of operation, we traveled to both Ohio and Washington D.C., to tape and rebroadcast the USYSA Regional and National Championship matches featuring the Chicago Magic Soccer Club. My work has also been seen on WJYS-TV channel 62, Chicago.

As a student at Saint Joseph's College, I wore a lot of hats. I was in the college bands and choir, worked in Campus Ministry, and was a leader for campus retreats. I was the drummajor for the marching band, accompanist for the college choruses, Director of Music Ministries, and the Chapel Organist. I wrote a column in the college newspaper, The Observer, which I shared with another student. I am the past-treasurer for the college College Student Association, Vice-President of the College Republicans, a student senator, and a member of the honors society. Besides school, I was the minister of music for the Saint Augustine Parish Elementary School in Rensselaer three of my four years at SJC.

At home, I am a 3rd degree knight in the Knights of Columbus - Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Council #324, where I help as often as possible as a volunteer for charitable causes. I also remain the Assistant Producer of the cablecast of the annual Evergreen Park Independence Day Parade. I serve as the Associate Organist at Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park, Illinois and the newly appointed Organist and Director of Music at Saint Barbara Parish in Chicago's historic Bridgeport neighborhood. I am currently studying conducting under Dr. John McIntyre during the summer months, and this fall and winter term studying with Dr. Robert Sinclair at Vandercook College of Music at the Illinois Instituate of Technology.

I have studied with Dr. Bruce W. Glenny (of Eastman), Dr. John B. Egan (Indiana), and the Rev. Dr. Lawrence F. Heiman C.PP.S. (Pontifical). I am scheduled to graduate from Saint Joseph's College with a Master's degree in July 2006. I hope to be able to continue working toward advanced degrees in music. I would one day like to be the Director of Music for a large cathedral parish.

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