St. Agnes music director removed amid investigation

Faces possible charges of child exploitation, diocese says

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The co-director of music at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre is under federal investigation regarding possible charges of child exploitation, the diocese announced on Sept. 15.

Michael Wustrow, 55, joined the diocese in 1993 and also served as director of the Diocesan Adult Choir. He has extensive experience as a choral conductor and organist, and has performed regularly at St. Agnes Cathedral, as well as at recitals across the country, according to the diocese.

He was supposed to begin a new job on Nov. 1 as music director of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, according to a report by the Orlando Sentinel.

“The Diocese learned of the investigation this week after the FBI executed a search warrant and seized Mr. Wustrow’s work computer,” a diocese statement released on Sept. 15 read. “Mr. Wustrow was immediately relieved of all Diocesan and parish duties, and both the Diocese and St. Agnes Parish have been cooperating fully with law enforcement officials.”

It added: “We understand that this is upsetting news, and we will seek to keep you apprised of further developments as soon as we are able to communicate them to you.”

The diocese did not wish to comment further.

The Roman Catholic cathedral is the seat to the diocese of Rockville Centre, which serves about 1.5 million people. St. Agnes’s music program, which Wustrow co-directed with Michael Bower, has eight singing groups, including a children’s choir made up of first- and second-graders, two girls’ choirs comprising girls in grades 3 through 8 and a Choir of Men and Boys for those in grades 3 through 12.

Wustrow became the director of the Diocesan Choir in 2004 succeeding its founder, Msgr. Ronald Hayde, according to the group’s Facebook page. Founded in 1991, the Diocesan Choir comprises about 100 singers who come from Catholic parishes throughout Nassau and Suffolk County, and provides choral music for the principal diocesan liturgies throughout the year, including ordinations of deacons, priests, and bishops, as well as special music services and concerts of sacred music.

As a choral clinician, Wustrow has presented choral clinics, workshops, and festivals in Orlando, Milwaukee, Rochester, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Anaheim, and has also made numerous appearances in the tri-state area, the page said.

Wustrow holds a degree in music education from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.

He did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment at press time.

If you have any information concerning this matter, the Diocese requests you to contact the Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Young People at (516) 678-5800, ext. 573, or (516) 594-9063.