Sacred Music at Our Lady of Mercy
About Sacred Music at Mercy
For centuries, Sacred Music has been an important element for Catholic liturgies, especially the Mass. As a result, the Church has been largely responsible for the development of Western Music, and it continues to be one of the greatest supporters of the arts in the world.
Our Lady of Mercy is the early stages of expanding the Sacred Music Ministry under the leadership of Director of Sacred Music, Daniel Gauger. To learn more about our Sacred Music Ministry and the vision for the future, please read below.
Singing at Our Lady of Mercy
Sunday English Choir
We have started recruitment for a new, semiprofessional English choir for our 11 AM Sunday Mass. The choir is open to volunteers and to professional singers. If interested or in need of more information, please contact the Director of Sacred Music, Daniel Gauger at DJGauger@ourladyofmercync.org
Spanish Choirs
Spanish Adult Choirs
Our Lady of Mercy is home to 3 volunteer adult Spanish choirs that sing on a rotation schedule. If interested or in need of more information, please contact the Director of Sacred Music at DJGauger@ourladyofmercync.org
Spanish Children’s Choir
The Spanish Children’s Choir sings once a month during the academic months of the year (September through May). If interested or in need of more information, please contact the Director of Sacred Music.
Vision of Growth
The Future of Sacred Music at Our Lady of Mercy
Future Organ Project
After 21 years, Our Lady of Mercy has an organ! In October 2026, we purchased a used digital organ that will serve us as we form future plans for a new organ. If you are interested in contributing to the future organ project, please contact our Director of Sacred Music at DJGauger@ourladyofmercync.org.
The Arts at Mercy Series
The Arts at Mercy Series will be an annual series of free public recitals and arts-related events at Our Lady of Mercy. This series is set to begin in December 2026 with a full Spring 2027 event lineup to be announced at a later date.
Upcoming Events
O Antiphons Performance & Light Reception featuring Mora Vocis
Sunday, December 20, 2026 @ 4:30 PM - Our Lady of Mercy Church
Sacred Music Ministry Fund
The Sacred Music Ministry is in need of funds for the purchase of music resources and other materials. If you’d like to help the Sacred Music Ministry in acquiring these resources, please consider donating to the Ministry Fund. A link to donate is down below, but we also accept other forms of monetary donation. Please contact the Director of Sacred Music if you have any questions about the Fund.
Thank you for your generosity!
About our Director of Sacred Music
Daniel Gauger
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Daniel Gauger is the Director of Sacred Music & Organist at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Winston-Salem, NC. Before starting his role at Our Lady of Mercy, Gauger earned his Masters degree in Organ Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in May 2026. In addition, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance at the University of Oklahoma in May 2023 and pursued an additional year of post-Baccalaureate study at Oklahoma City University. Gauger also previously served as the Director of Music for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Statesville, NC and for St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. During his academic career, Gauger studied organ under the instruction of Dr. Timothy Olsen, Dr. Melissa Plamann, and Dr. Adam Pajan.
Gauger is an active member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and serves as Membership Coordinator for the Piedmont (NC) Chapter of the AGO. Before his current role, he previously served as a committee member on the AGO Young Organists Committee Board.