Founding History

The vision for Gregorian Chant Academy began as early as 2010, when Christopher first dreamed of building a professional, accessible platform for learning Gregorian chant online.

In 2014, after spending time as a postulant at the Benedictine monastery of San Benedetto in Norcia, Italy, Christopher returned to the U.S. to begin family life. A few years later, tragedy struck. On March 20, 2019, Christopher, his wife, and his father lost everything in a devastating house fire. After months of helping rebuild both his father's home and then his own—thanks to insurance coverage—Christopher faced severe underemployment.

It was then, in January 2021, that he decided to take a leap of faith and launch the Gregorian Chant Academy on YouTube. He had only just discovered that YouTube could generate income, though he quickly learned how difficult that path could be. Still, through persistence and passion, the channel gained traction—reaching over 10,000 subscribers within a year, and over 30,000 by year two.

Encouraged by the momentum, Christopher launched the beta version of his online master course in March 2022. It quickly sold out, prompting him to close his woodworking business and commit full-time to the Academy.

In 2023, Christopher initiated a merger of Gregorian Chant Academy with Floriani Sacred Music; the GCA became its official online educational division, and Christopher joined the ensemble as its fifth member.

By July 2025, after much prayer and discernment the Academy and Floriani parted ways to operate as separate entities once again—allowing each to pursue its unique mission with greater focus and flexibility, while continuing their shared dedication to the renewal of sacred music.