Sister Marganne Drago, SSJ, D.M.A., M.M., M.L.A

Sister Marganne Drago is a Sister of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.  Sister resides at Saint Jerome Convent in Northeast Philadelphia.  

Sister Marganne was born and raised in Flushing, New York, the second of five children.  Her parents were both in the field of medicine; however, music was an integral part of her life from early on as each member of the family played several musical instruments.   Sister holds a doctorate in Music Education from Temple University, Philadelphia and a Masters in Music Education from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. She also has a Masters Degree in Liturgy from the Liturgical Institute, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois.

Sister Marganne’s primary instruments are piano, organ, and clarinet although she has played several, including the zither.  She studied piano at Carnegie Hall in New York City for five years where she performed in several recitals. Her career has been principally in music education:  on the elementary level in Illinois, New York, and Philadelphia; on the high school level at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School; and as professor of music and chair of the music department at Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia.  She also taught English and Christian Culture in Nagoya, Japan. Her liturgical experience includes two years in the Office for Worship in Philadelphia followed by three years in Las Vegas, Nevada, working as liturgical consultant to Bishop Joseph Pepe.  Sister also has been organist and music and choir director in various parishes in Philadelphia: Stella Maris, Our Mother of Consolation, and Sacred Heart, Royersford, PA. Her most recent assignment was that of pastoral associate and director of liturgical ministries at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Morrisville, PA.

Sister Marganne is a frequent presenter on liturgy and liturgical music topics throughout the Archdiocese and offers periodic workshops for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Lectors.   Her favorite past times include extensive travel as well as playing/entertaining on the piano and accordion. Her bragging right includes tap dancing and playing the accordion which merited first place in the Nunsense competition conducted by the Society Hill Playhouse, Philadelphia. 

Sister Marganne can hardly wait to become a part of a strong, spiritual learning environment coupled by a great desire to be a dynamic, loving presence in the Martin Saints family.

Organist | Theology Teacher Emerita