New music director brings broad range of experience

SALISBURY — The Congregational Church of Salisbury has hired David Baranowski as its new music director, succeeding Samuel Lord Kalcheim, who has been the music director at the church for the past two years.

Baranowski is currently music director for the Westchester Choral Society, as well as a professor of music theory, ear training and piano at Western Connecticut State University. He  received his bachelor and master’s degrees from Purchase College Conservatory of Music.

Baronowski has a wide range of musical experiences, having conducted operas, musicals and church choirs. In addition to his wealth of conducting experience, he has been touring as a performer in Europe for the last 18 years as a keyboardist for Blackmore’s Night (led by Ritchie Blackmore, a founder of 1960s rock group Deep Purple).

The group has performed in nearly 25 countries and has appeared on German television multiple times. According to Baranowski, the band plays a lot of new music that is a blend of folk renaissance and rock.

Baranowski said the experience of a keyboardist in an ever-changing band, in both style and members, is an invaluable experience for a music director.

“Your role as a keyboard player is to fill in what’s not there,” Baranowski said in an interview on Aug. 1. “It makes one listen to the music as a whole and make it work.”

Salisbury Congregational will not be the first church job in Baranowski’s career. He was the director of music at St. Jude Roman Catholic Church in Monroe, Conn., before assuming his new role in Salisbury.

“The church is beautiful and the choir seems well versed. I’m hopeful,” Baranowski said.

He will be continuing the tradition of Meeting House Music and Meditations on the first Friday of every month, but is hoping to add some of his own flair and ideas.

“Typically in the first year of something it’s always smart to keep your eyes and ears open and figure out what people want,” he said.

“His skill as a conductor stems from his understanding of vocal technique, while his virtuosity on the harpsichord, piano, keyboard and organ has us all — choir and the congregation alike — singing for joy. The Search Committee celebrates that our opening for Music Director was in sync with David’s beat,” Emily Elliot, chair of the Search Committee said in a press release.

Baranowski lives in Danbury with his wife, Jennifer, and their son, Vincent.