Starting at age 15, Mario Buchanan has been a professional church musician for over 17 years. His teachers include Valerie Thorson, Todd Wilson, Nicole Keller, Marie-Louis Langlais (widow of Jean Langlais), James David Christie, and Craig Cramer. Mario concertizes around the country. Past organ recitals have been at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Chestertown; Bruton Parish Church, Colonial Williamsburg; St. Philip’s Cathedral, Atlanta; and Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston. As an accompanist, Mario continues to maintain an active schedule playing for local choral ensembles. Past performances include accompanying the Cleveland Chamber Choir during a residency with the UK composer, Cecilia McDowall.
As an active vocalist, he has sung locally in choirs ranging from amateur to professional caliper. In 2023, he joined the choir of Trinity Cathedral, Portland during their residency at St. George’s, Windsor and St. Paul’s Cathedral. A lifelong learner, Mario loves going to conferences and finding new ways to praise God through song.
An active choral conductor, Mario studied choral conducting with Dr. J.D. Goddard, Dr. Samuel Gordon, Dr. Marie Bucoy-Calavan, and has participated in masterclasses with Dr. William Weinert, Dr. Ann Howard Jones, Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe, and John Nelson.
Mario is the Past Dean of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) Akron Chapter and past Music in Worship Chair for the Ohio Choral Directors Association(OCDA). Currently, Mario serves as the Chair of the Lay Professional Advocacy Committee for the Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM), where he advocates for lay employees in the Episcopal Church. He is a Deputy to General Convention for the Diocese of Ohio and serves on the Diocesan Commission on Ministry.