Dr. Peter LaManna papers

Dr. Peter LaManna was born in Reading, PA on August 15, 1930. He became one of the youngest church organists in Reading when he accepted the position of organist at Saint Anthony’s Lithuanian Catholic Church at age 16. Years later, in 1964, he became director of the Reading Choral Society, a position that he held until 1976.

Dr. LaManna was called to become Director of Liturgical Music for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1968. Subsequently, he was named choirmaster for the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. It was here that LaManna founded The Archdiocesan Boy Choir. Founded in 1968 at the request of John Cardinal Krol, the Archdiocesan Boy Choir has performed in parishes around the Archdiocese, the United States, and the world. As Director of Liturgical Music for the Archdiocese, two of his biggest accomplishments were being named Director of Music for the 41st International Eucharistic Congress and, during the visit of Pope John Paul II in October 1979, serving as Director of Music and choirmaster for the occasion. He was also named Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1970. Dr. LaManna passed away on January 16, 1990.