Music Ministry Staff
The St. Monica Fine Arts Ministry is dedicated to leading the music of the St. Monica Catholic Church parish liturgies, strengthening the community life of the parish, and reaching out to the greater Dallas community through music.
The goals of the St. Monica Fine Arts Ministry are to lead the music of parish liturgies, strengthen the community life of the parish, and reach out to the greater Dallas community through music. Our multi-faceted Music Ministry spans many cultures and musical traditions.
We invite you to visit St. Monica Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas to experience how your faith and spiritual life might be strengthened and enhanced through our diverse liturgical expressions and musical events. We have opportunities for people of all levels of age and experience.
Conner McMains
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
A native of Little Rock, AR, Conner McMains began taking piano lessons at age seven and quickly developed a passion for music. He began accompanying for his elementary school Masses when he was 12, continuing as Mass accompanist at his high school where he began to teach himself how to play the organ, in addition to a variety of other instruments. He began organ lessons with Phil Bordeleau in Little Rock and accepted his first position as Director of Music at 17. Throughout the rest of high school and college, he continued to serve as Director of Music and Organist for multiple churches in central Arkansas.
Mr. McMains earned a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance at Hendrix College (Conway, AR) in 2012 where he studied organ with Mr. Ansley Fleming. He subsequently moved to Arlington, TX with his wife, Catherine, and began serving as the Associate Director of Worship & Music at New World United Methodist Church. In 2017, he earned a Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting with Maestro David Itkin at the University of North Texas (Denton, TX).
Mr. McMains began serving as Director of Music at St. Monica Catholic Church in January 2018 where he directs the Adult Choir and Handbell Choir, supervises all music within the parish, oversees a skilled music department staff, and coordinates the annual Fine Arts Series. He is an active member of numerous musical organizations including serving as Vice President & Workshop Chair for the Dallas Chapter of Choristers Guild and in a variety of leadership roles for several local, regional, and national committees within the American Guild of Organists.
Logan Herod
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Logan Herod currently serves as the Associate Director of Music at St. Monica Catholic Church. She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University, where she graduated with two Bachelor degrees: one in Vocal Music Education and the second in Church Music. She completed a Masters in Sacred Music in 2019 and a Masters in Music Education in 2020, both from Southern Methodist University. Logan has taught general music, piano and voice lessons, directed children's choirs, handbell choirs, and served as a choral section leader and cantor at several churches and schools in the Dallas area. She is currently the hospitality chair of the Dallas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and serves on the board of the Dallas Chapter of National Association of Pastoral Musicians, Choristers Guild, and Dallas Music Teachers Association.
Guillermo Martinez
ORGANIST
Guillermo Martinez came to St. Monica Catholic Church in October of 2009. He accompanies the St. Monica Choir in masses and rehearsals, as well as choral/instrumental performances throughout the year.
Mr. Martinez earned both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Texas Christian University, where he was a student of Emmet G. Smith. His first organ teacher was Sherryl Smith Pond, previously at Sam Houston State University. Between degrees, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study organ with Johannes Geffert at the Robert Schumann Conservatory in Düsseldorf, Germany for the 1988-1989 school year. Master class studies have been with Robert Anderson, Donald Sutherland, John Weaver, Russell Saunders, Marie-Louise Jacquet-Langlais, Philippe Lefebvre, and Olivier Latry. While in graduate school, he served as Church Music Intern at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth. He has performed recitals in Texas, Oklahoma, New York, and Germany.
Mr. Martinez has been on the faculty of the Texas Christian University Music Preparatory Division since 1991, where he has taught private piano and organ. As Coordinator of Technology Resources, he has developed the music technology program for the Division. In 1994 he joined the faculty of the TCU School of Music, teaching piano and theory; during the 1995-1996 academic year, he was Interim Professor of Organ and Church Music/University Organist. He was appointed Coordinator of Class Piano in June of 2001. He is an active educator, having presented workshops in organ and music technology at local, state, and national meetings and conventions of Texas Music Educators Association, Music Teachers National Association, and the American Guild of Organists.
Logan Herod
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Logan Herod currently serves as the Associate Director of Music at St. Monica Catholic Church. She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University, where she graduated with two Bachelor degrees: one in Vocal Music Education and the second in Church Music. She completed a Masters in Sacred Music in 2019 and a Masters in Music Education in 2020, both from Southern Methodist University. Logan has taught general music, piano and voice lessons, directed children's choirs, handbell choirs, and served as a choral section leader and cantor at several churches and schools in the Dallas area. She is currently the hospitality chair of the Dallas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and serves on the board of the Dallas Chapter of National Association of Pastoral Musicians, Choristers Guild, and Dallas Music Teachers Association.
Guillermo Martinez
ORGANIST
Guillermo Martinez came to St. Monica Catholic Church in October of 2009. He accompanies the St. Monica Choir in masses and rehearsals, as well as choral/instrumental performances throughout the year.
Mr. Martinez earned both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from Texas Christian University, where he was a student of Emmet G. Smith. His first organ teacher was Sherryl Smith Pond, previously at Sam Houston State University. Between degrees, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study organ with Johannes Geffert at the Robert Schumann Conservatory in Düsseldorf, Germany for the 1988-1989 school year. Master class studies have been with Robert Anderson, Donald Sutherland, John Weaver, Russell Saunders, Marie-Louise Jacquet-Langlais, Philippe Lefebvre, and Olivier Latry. While in graduate school, he served as Church Music Intern at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth. He has performed recitals in Texas, Oklahoma, New York, and Germany.
Mr. Martinez has been on the faculty of the Texas Christian University Music Preparatory Division since 1991, where he has taught private piano and organ. As Coordinator of Technology Resources, he has developed the music technology program for the Division. In 1994 he joined the faculty of the TCU School of Music, teaching piano and theory; during the 1995-1996 academic year, he was Interim Professor of Organ and Church Music/University Organist. He was appointed Coordinator of Class Piano in June of 2001. He is an active educator, having presented workshops in organ and music technology at local, state, and national meetings and conventions of Texas Music Educators Association, Music Teachers National Association, and the American Guild of Organists.