Carolyn Pirtle, M.M., MSM, M.A.

As Program Director of the Center for Liturgy, Carolyn oversees the planning and facilitation of the Center’s signature events, including the Mathis Liturgical Leadership Program, as well as other McGrath Institute events like the annual International Crèche Exhibit. Additionally, Carolyn assists with liturgical planning and formation for the entire McGrath Institute, and serves as steward of the MICL's Heritage Edition of The Saint John's Bible.

Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Carolyn holds degrees in piano performance (B.M., Kansas State University, 2003), music theory-composition (M.M., Kansas State University, 2005), vocal/choral sacred music (MSM, Notre Dame, 2008), and theology (M.A., Notre Dame, 2016). Carolyn presents on the theology and practice of liturgical music, the importance of the arts in Catholic life and religious education, and formation in liturgical and devotional prayer, particularly for the domestic church.

An award-winning composer, Carolyn has set the antiphons and psalms for the entire Liturgy of the Hours. She also created the nine one-act musicals performed in yearly cycles at Notre Dame Vision, and most recently, composed the full-length work Behold God's Love: A Eucharistic Musical, written in honor of the National Eucharistic Revival and premiered in South Bend on July 6, 2024. Several of her liturgical compositions are available through World Library Publications (now part of GIA) and earthsongs.

Carolyn has published articles in Logos: A Journal for Catholic Thought and Culture, AIM: Liturgy Resources Magazine, and GIA Quarterly, is author of Praying the Rosary Together: A Guide for Households and Classrooms (World Library Publications, 2019), and Ten Ways to Pray: A Catholic Guide for Drawing Closer to God (Ave Maria Press, 2021), the first book in the McGrath Institute’s Engaging Catholicism series.

When she’s not playing piano, singing, or composing, Carolyn enjoys attending concerts, watching old movies, reading novels, and baking.