Rev. Christopher M. Trussell

Priest, composer, teacher, actor, conductor, playwright, director, musician, and friend; we will miss Christopher Trussell and all the joy and elation he instilled in our community.
Father Chris was born on February 15, 1937 in Birmingham, England. During the first eighteen years of life, he became proficient as an organist and pianist, and was a member of the choirs of the St. Germain Church.
In 1954, he moved with his parents to South Africa. Shortly thereafter, Chris soon found himself appointed as the Director of Music and St. Cuthbert’s Church. While in South Africa, Chris became an accomplished French horn player as a member of the Port Elizabeth Orchestra. He also conducted a performance of Handel’s Messiah composed of member living in the ghettos of Port Elizabeth. This was typical Chris.
After working seven years in South Africa, Chris returned home to England and attended Trinity College of Music in London, studying composition, orchestration and theatre. Completing his studies, he was offered and accepted a position at St. John’s School in Houston, and thus he came to the United States.
At this time Chris began to write television commercials. This led to a request that he write of film score. Eventually Chris moved to Hollywood to work on musical scores for the film industry.
In 1967 he accepted a position of Director of Fine Arts at the Webb School of California. While there, he founded the Claremont Boys Choir, the Claremont Girls Choir, and many other groups still in existence today. His hard work and talent let to opportunities, including writing a film score for Warner Brothers, a score for a NASA documentary, and many others. Although Chris would not like it mentioned, his compositions also garnered him an Academy Award nomination for his score for the movie Hot Potato.
In 1985, after much soul searching and contemplation, Chris decided to pursue what had been on his mind for so many years. He returned to a life of study in the State of Washington, where he completed two masters’ degrees in religious studies and spirituality simultaneously. In his spare time he founded the Spokane Boys Choir and the Schola Cantorum, and also began work as a film and theatre critic.
In 1987 Chris came to Central Minnesota to acquire yet another degree at St. John’s University, this time in liturgy. Wasting no time, he started a program through which many diocesan events would take place, formed a Diocesan Schola, which would be responsible for various official liturgies for the Diocese of St. Cloud, directed Jesus Christ Superstar, and much more.
After his ordination to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Cloud in 1992, he was appointed to teach religion at Cathedral High School. He also revitalized the theatre department with the presentation of The Music Man. His dedication, vision, leadership and drive ignited the fire that burns brightly today in the CHS Theatre Department, and provides the foundation to assure that his legacy will continue into the future.
During his tenure at Cathedral High School, he had directed over 150 productions, developed specialized areas of theatre, including The CHS Repertory Players, Coffee House productions, Mondays at 7 and more. Father Chris has been a tremendously positive influence on the lives of a generation of future leaders.
Father Chris also established classes in all areas of the craft that are now a regular part of the curriculum at Cathedral High School. Students have the opportunity to lean the technical aspects of theatre, including lighting, sound, stage management and costuming. A few years ago another component was added – the One-Act Play Festival, showcasing students own creations.
The first CHS Theatre Department cultural trip to England took place in 1996, and has become an annual event.
Always looking to the next thing, Chris founded The Cathedral Festival of the Arts, which for five years brought tremendous national performers to St. Cloud. This week-long celebration of the arts took place in early September, surrounding the feast of St. Cloud, and included performances by the James Sewell Ballet, the Tokyo String Quartet, as well as dramatic performances of T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral, a Man For All Seasons, and Galileo, and more. He also created and composed an original musical, entitled, Scrooge, based on the Dickens novel.
Parkinson’s, time, a stroke, age and hard work may have slowed him down, but enthusiasm, positive energy, spirituality and a sense of the next thing to do kept him motivated. His presence in our community has made it possible for thousands of students and residents to participate in theatre, music and art.
Christopher Trussell died on November 11, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary (Cadman) Trussell and George Trussell. He is survived by a son, Gavin Trussell and two grandchildren Alexander and Abigail, who reside in Lewis Center, Ohio.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at St. Mary’s Cathedral Upper Church. Most Reverend John F. Kinney will officiate. Burial will take place at Assumption Cemetery in St. Cloud. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday and after 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Cathedral Upper Church with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Memorials are preferred to Cathedral High School or St. Mary’s Cathedral Music Fund.