Ralph Holtzhauser
Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. AT ST. BERNARD
About Mr. Holtzhauser
Ralph Holtzhauser (b. 1993) grew up in Rocky River, Ohio. Starting in second grade at St. Christopher Church, he began learning how to play the organ and soon played full Masses by the end of that year. Ralph continued to forward his liturgical music career by playing at St. Luke Church and Annunciation Parish into his high school years. Following high school, he attended Baldwin Wallace University, where he originally pursued a degree in music therapy with a piano primary. After consideration during his junior year, he switched his major to organ performance and added a composition major as well. After graduating in 2016, he became the music director at St. Bernadette Church and was asked to become the music teacher in 2018. During his first year as the music teacher at St. Bernadette, the choir grew to 55 children. During his second year, the choir remained at 55 began to participate in events outside of the school, including collaborating with Playhouse Square to open the play “A Christmas Carol” and participating in the OMEAs for the first time in the school’s history. In 2019, he became the music director of St. Joan of Arc Church in Chagrin Falls. In 2020, Ralph accepted a Board Member Position on the NPM Cleveland Council. In 2021, Ralph began studying with Todd Wilson at the Cleveland Institute of Music to pursue his Masters in Organ. In 2022, Ralph accepted the position of the Diocesan Music Director of Youngstown and the Music Director of the Cathedral of St. Columba.
Outside of the liturgical and school world, Ralph enjoys going to jazz and rock concerts. His love of these musical styles continues to take him many different places, including the Kennedy Center where he played with three-time Grammy winner Graham Breedlove. He recorded for the progressive rock group, Earthside, at the LA Congregationalist Church, home to the largest church organ in the USA. Ralph subs for David Blazer at the Velvet Tango Room as needed. He plays with Opus 216 for various events in the area as well.