Central St. Matthew’s music program is varied and a integral part of our Sunday services. Music styles range from traditional to contemporary and from classical to African American spirituals. From September through June choir practices are held Wednesday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 and from 9 till 10 on Sunday mornings. All are welcome to join us with their voice or instrumental talent in our offerings to the worship service.
As of September 1, 2010, we are pleased to introduce and welcome Dr. Lucian Zidaru as our new Minister of Music. Dr. Z, as he is fondly called by his students, is an Assistant Professor at Dillard University in New Orleans.
He graduated from Louisiana State University in August 2005, with a D.M.A. degree in Piano Performance, minor field Music Theory.
Dr. Z has taught piano, music analysis, music theory, choir and voice coaching / accompanying at Dillard University for five years. He is also the coach / accompanist for all voice major students.
Dr. Zidaru has been serving as a music minister playing piano, organ and accompanying/coaching the choir at New Beulah Baptist Church in Hammond for more than ten years. He has served as a music minister performing piano and organ for years at Methodist and Presbyterian churches in the Hammond / Baton Rouge area, and for more than two years at a Catholic church.
Prior to 2005, Dr. Z taught at Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University and accompanied the S.L.U. North Shore Choir. He has performed with the Southeastern Louisiana University Symphonic Orchestra.
His activities include playing sacred repertoire from classical composers. He performed Chamber music recitals and concerts, alone and with his colleagues, at all church services where he served as a music minister.
As a part of the music faculty, Dr. Zidaru performed (piano/organ) at all religious and artistic events that took place at Lawless Chapel at the Dillard University campus. Dillard University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
As the pianist and accompanist for the Dillard University Choir, he has been on all the choir Spring tours since 2005. Dr. Z has had the privilege of accompanying the Dillard University Choir in New Orleans and around the country in the last five years. These tours are planned and practiced during the whole year and cover a large number of performances in a large variety of African-American churches of many denominations. These artistic events represented a wonderful opportunity for him to become familiar with African-American sacred and spiritual repertoire and African-American tradition and heritage.
Dr. Zidaru and his lovely wife, Aurelia are originally from Rumania. They have been in the United States for about eleven years. They have one son, Andre, who is a freshman attending Southeastern Louisiana University.
