Paul Gibson

Bio

Paul Gibson has been composing since he began piano lessons as a child. He received degrees in composition from Mount St. Mary’s University, Los Angeles, and California State University, Northridge. He has studied with Matt Doran, Frank Campo, Aurelio de la Vega, Ian Krouse, and John Harbison. Gibson spent 30 years as a professional church musician, primarily as a cantor. In 1987, he was commissioned to arrange hymns for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Los Angeles. Gibson took part in the first Composers Symposium of the Oregon Bach Festival, where three of his works were performed. He was co-winner of the annual Christmas Carol Competition sponsored by the American Composers Forum and VocalEssence, Philip Brunelle, conductor. Loyola Marymount University commissioned and premiered his Te Deum for chorus and orchestra for the Golden Jubilee of the choral program founded by the late Paul Salamunovich. In December 2016, his music debuted at Carnegie Hall and at St. Olaf’s Christmas Festival. Paul's compositions have been broadcast on hundreds of radio stations and have received performances by the LA Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Debussy Trio, and three Grammy-winning choruses: Los Angeles Chamber Singers, the Kansas City Chorale, and the Phoenix Chorale, among many others.

Paul's music for OCP includes "A Christmas Gloria", for which he received the Owen Award; A Christmas Mass; "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name"; "Immaculate Mary"; "How Can I Keep from Singing"; and, on the Trinitas imprint, "The Love of our Creator". The recorded collection of Christmas music, In Deepest Night, includes the original version of A Christmas Gloria.

Gibson is staff writer for the marketing department of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He lives with his wife in Anaheim, California.