William Picher retires

William Picher retired on June 16 after serving as director of music and organist at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, Orlando, Florida, where he ministered for over 25 years under all six rectors. Picher presided over the 86-rank Schoenstein organ that was installed in 2020 as well as serving as conductor of the professional Basilica Choir and artistic director of the Basilica Concert Series. As first director of music at the basilica, Picher had the opportunity to build a music program from scratch. Under his leadership, the Basilica Choir has provided many performances, not only at the basilica, but across Florida and the Midwest. They also performed regular outreach programs at prisons, retirement communities, hospices, and elsewhere.

Picher previously served as director of music and organist at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg, Florida, from 1994 to 2001 and before that at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Maine, from 1988 to 1994. From 1980 to 1988, Picher was a trumpet instrumentalist in the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C., where he performed at the White House, Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, as well as touring nationally.

A Maine native, Picher was educated at the University of Maine, Eastman School of Music, and the Catholic University of America. Over the years, he performed organ recitals in many churches across the country as well as being a trumpet instrumentalist in the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Orchestra, Walt Disney World Orchestra, and others.

In 1983 Picher became the founding editor of PP Music and Queen City Brass Publications whose catalog included over 150 works for brass with distribution all across the United States and foreign countries. An advocate of music education, Picher taught at the University of Maine, St. Petersburg College, University of Southern Maine, and Florida Southern College. He has over twenty published compositions and arrangements for brass and keyboard.

In 2001 Picher was awarded the St. Jude Medal by Bishop Robert Lynch for his service to the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle and the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He maintained professional memberships in the International Trumpet Guild, the American Guild of Organists, Broadcast Music, Inc., and the Central Florida Musicians Association, Local 389. Picher has recorded more than sixteen CDs of both his trumpet and organ playing as well as conducting the Basilica Choir.  He will continue to perform and record with a new professional vocal ensemble called “Symvoce: A Symphony of Voices.”