Benjamin Niemczyk
Director of Music/Choir Director

Conductor and singer Benjamin Niemczyk has performed with Anthony Newman, Hélène Grimaud, Ennio Morricone at Radio City Music Hall and the United Nations General Assembly, John Nelson, Marin Alsop, Harold Rosenbaum, Amy Kaiser, Frank Nemhauser, the Orchestra of St Lukes, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.He has held administrative positions with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra, New Westchester Symphony, Canticum Novum Singers, New York Virtuoso Singers and C4. He is a founding member of C4. He served on the original jury for the composition competition of the New York Virtuoso Singers. He is the co-founder of the New Westchester Symphony Orchestra and founded New York Session Symphony. In addition to his work at St Boniface, he is conductor of New Westchester Symphony Orchestra, New York Session Symphony, Westchester Oratorio Society and the Chrysalis Consort. Also an amateur violist, he is a member of the New York Late Starters Orchestra. He studied at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and DePaul University School of Music. His principal conducting teachers are Cliff Colnot and Harold Rosenbaum.
bonifacechoir@gmail.com

Christina Matone
Director of Children's Catechesis/Oratory School of Discipleship

Born in Brooklyn, married at the Oratory in 1998 by Father Mark, and a member of the Community since 1997, Christina joins the staff in 2015. She holds a PH.D. in Classics from Columbia University. Besides her work at the Oratory, Christina homeschools three of her four children, and teaches Latin to homeschooling groups. She lives in Richmond Hill, Queens, with her husband and children.
christinamatone@oratorychurch.org

J. Tucker Wheatley
Associate Director of Music & Organist at St Boniface

Originally from Virginia, Tucker Wheatley joined the Oratory music staff in 2015. Tucker holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied choral conducting and organ, and New York University, where he studied music education, with a concentration in voice and organ. In addition to his duties at St. Boniface, Tucker works for the National Children’s Chorus as a conductor and marketing/development manager. He co-founded and conducted the NYU Alumni Choir, and has served as the music director of the choirs at Friends Seminary NYC, Camp Encore/Coda in Maine, and the Lower East Side Prep School. As an organist, Tucker has played for Holy Trinity Church Inwood, All Souls Church NYC, the Church at Point O'Woods, Musica Viva Orchestra, NYU University Singers, National Children’s Chorus, Bach in the Heights, Westchester Oratorio Society, and has played recitals in the US and Europe, including Masses at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. As a choral singer and conductor, Tucker has performed with such groups as the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, MSM Chamber Orchestra, and the Oratorio Society of New York, amongst others. Tucker is featured on recordings of the American Boychoir, the New York Philharmonic, and on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's double-platinum record, The Lost Christmas Eve.

Joe Vanderpool
Organist at Assumption

Joseph was both honored and humbled to take on the organist's responsibilities at Assumption Parish for the Brooklyn Oratory in September of 2017. As early as four years old, Joseph began singing for the choir at St. Augustine's Church in his hometown of Mamaroneck, NY. Just a few years later, at age 9, he was invited to begin playing his violin for the Sunday services. During this time, Joseph became close with the organist at St. Augustine's, Michael Philip Ward, a world class organist, composer, and improvisor. Working closely with Michael over the course of many years, Joseph began to learn these arts of improvisation, composition, and of course, organ pedagogy, so much so that by the time he was in high school, Joseph was the assistant organist at St. Augustine's as well as the violinist. Although it breaks his heart to not be working with his good friend every Sunday after over two decades together, Joseph is extremely excited to begin his own journey here at Assumption, and has loved every minute of it thus far. Aside from the music, his favorite part about church is getting to know all of the wonderful people who attend mass, so always feel free to say hi or give a suggestion about the music. Cheers!