Meet the Staff of the
St. John Cantius Music Program
Massimo Scapin
Director of Liturgical Music
Massimo Scapin is an Italian conductor of both opera and the symphonic repertoire, a composer, and pianist.
He holds diplomas in piano and in choral conducting from the State Conservatory of Music in Perugia, Fellowship diplomas in orchestral conducting and in composition from the National College of Music in London, and the baccalaureate in religious sciences magna cum laude from the Pontifical Lateran University.
Scapin played piano from age eight. He attended the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, where he took courses, among others, in gregorian chant with Giacomo Baroffio and composition with Domenico Bartolucci; the International Academy Mozarteum in Salzburg, where he studied piano with Sergio Perticaroli; and the Accademia Musicale Pescarese, where he studied conducting with Donato Renzetti.
Massimo appeared as guest conductor and pianist in Europe, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, and the United States. He was conductor at the Musical Theatre of Galaţi in southeastern Romania (2001-03) and at the Musical Theater of Karaganda in central Kazakhstan (2008). From 1996 to 2008, Scapin conducted the symphonic concerts of the Portuguese Cultural Institute in Rome, some of them recorded on 14 CDs, including his Te Deum for tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra, on commission for the aforementioned Institute.
From Christmas 1999 - 2010, Scapin worked as the Assistant Music Director of the Sistine Chapel Choir. On the occasion of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, the Office of Papal Liturgical Celebrations commissioned him to compose and conduct music for the Mass celebrated by Pope St. John Paul II at Rome’s Olympic Stadium for the Jubilee of Sports People. He was also a Vatican Radio commentator and entertainer. He became assistant professor in vocal literature and piano accompanying at the Catholic University of Daegu, in southeastern South Korea, in 2011 and director of music at the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2013. In October 2013 Massimo took the podium as associate conductor of the Karaganda Symphony Orchestra. Since July 2019, he has become the Resident Composer for the Sistine Chapel Choir.
Dr. Corrado Cavalli, DMA
Organist
Corrado Cavalli, a native of Turin, Italy, has served as the organist at St. John Cantius Church in Chicago since June 2015. He holds Master’s Degrees in both Organ and Choral Conducting and Composition from the Conservatorio Statale di Musica “G. Verdi” in Turin, where he studied piano, organ, composition, and choral conducting. Additionally, he pursued a Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Illinois. Over the course of his career, he has received several honors and awards in both Italy and the United States.
As an organ soloist, he regularly performs at international festivals in the US. and Europe, including prestigious venues such as the cathedrals of Paris, Berlin, London, and Dublin, as well as in New York, Washington, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, and at universities like Chicago, Princeton, and Turin.
Dr. Cavalli has collaborated with esteemed choirs and orchestras, including the Italian National Symphony Orchestra, the French Ensemble Orchestral des Alpes et de la Mer, the Turin Philharmonic Orchestra, and the chamber choir of the Turin Conservatory.
He has recorded music for labels such as Biretta Books, De Montfort, AimHigher, Sony Classical, Elegia Records, and ElleDiCi music. Additionally, he has published works through Biretta Books in Chicago and the Italian music publishing company Armeiln Musica.
Recently, Dr. Cavalli established the Music Studio at St. John Cantius Church, focusing on sacred music.
Jonathan Esser
Intern
Jonathan Esser is an organist and church musician currently in his junior year at Loyola University Chicago. The Milwaukee native is pursuing degrees in Liturgical Music and Philosophy, with minors in Theology and Catholic Studies. Jonathan’s work in the Church has centered on the Catholic liturgy, serving as a substitute organist for several parishes in the Milwaukee area as well as working as a sacristan in Madonna della Strada Chapel and Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. At Loyola, he participates in the University Schola Cantorum and has pursued further study in Catholic sacred music, liturgy, and conducting. He also holds the Service Playing Certificate from the American Guild of Organists.
Jonathan’s interest in sacred music began at age 13, when he started participating in the St. Cecilia Organ Program led by Susan DeMarco, through which he studied the organ with a focus
on the instrument’s role within the Catholic Mass. Through his experience in parish and university settings, he has developed a particular interest in the relationship between music and the liturgy. His studies with Peter Morey and Dr. Jordan Caviedes-Chua have deepened his appreciation for the organ and Gregorian chant as integral parts of the Church’s musical tradition. His work at St. John Cantius allows him to continue developing his musical and liturgical formation within the rich tradition of Catholic sacred music.