Gigi Mitchell-Velasco is a musician’s musician and offers a wealth of superb musical talent, knowledge, and experience to First Church Boston as Director of Music, Organist, Choral Director, and Pianist/Accompanist. Her energy and creativity bring a variety of musical offerings every Sunday. She believes that the most important thing about music for First Church is to uplift and inspire not only the congregants but the singers with whom she works. Even the highest most profound level of singing together should still feel like community.

The organ was Gigi’s first instrument, taking lessons as soon as she was able to reach the pedals. In 2017, she completed her Masters in Organ at Boston University. She has been a recitalist at Trinity Church Boston, Christ Congregational Church Brockton, Old West Organ Society Boston, First Lutheran Church Boston, Marsh Chapel at Boston University, and Providence’s Grace Church. She is an accomplished pianist and has been an award-winning accompanist.

As flutist, after graduating from Curtis Institute of Music, she was principal flutist of Sarah Caldwell’s Opera Company of Boston and Opera New England, positions she held for 8 seasons.

As a concert and opera singer, she enjoyed a 20-year award-winning international career, performing with some of the world’s top symphony orchestras and conductors. She has several commercial recordings with American and European orchestras.

As choral conductor, her studies include being a Scholar at Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, a Fellow at UMass Amherst’s Conducting Institute, and a participant at Westminster Choir College’s Summer Workshop. She has also trained as an orchestral conductor with Paul Vermel, Markand Thakar and David Hayes.

In commemorating 50 years since the bold rebuilding of First Church Boston, she planned and led the Choral Ensemble and Festival Brass, Organ & Percussion in a Festival Concert featuring Leo Collins’ “in mutuall love,” Adolphus Hailstork’s Seven Songs of the Rubaiyat, and John Rutter’s Gloria on April 30, 2022.

Gigi can be reached by email at: musicdirector@firstchurchboston.org