Arthur William Buckley

Arthur Buckley was born on November 4, 1951 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the only child of Arthur Edward Buckley and Roberta Dunlop Buckley, a proud member of the World War II Nursing Corps. He was raised in a home that valued faith, service, and education—principles that would guide his life’s work. His mother preceded him in death in 2000, and his father in 2015.

Arthur graduated from Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music from Boston University and later completed a Master of Religious Education at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

In August 1980, Arthur joined the faculty of St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas, as Performing Arts Chair and theology teacher. He arrived with a clear vision for revitalizing the school’s music program. At the time, the choir numbered only 24 students. Through his leadership, passion, and tireless dedication, the program flourished. When he retired in May 2022, the combined choir of St. Agnes Academy and Strake Jesuit College Preparatory had grown to 160 students.

Soon after his arrival, Arthur founded the St. Agnes Girls’ Triple Trio, a select ensemble of nine exceptional singers. Over the next four decades, the Triple Trio became one of the school’s most celebrated musical groups, performing at Carnegie Hall, touring nationally and internationally, and inspiring generations of young women. Many alumnae went on to careers in music—on Broadway and off Broadway, in opera, in education, and in music therapy.

In 1998, Arthur expanded his vision by establishing a Boys’ Triple Trio at Strake Jesuit. Together, known as “Double Triple Trio”, the two ensembles performed annually as the only student group recognized as professional performers at the Texas Renaissance Festival. He also supported the creation of the Performance Workshop, a contemporary girls’ choir that broadened the school’s musical offerings.

Arthur’s creativity extended beyond choral music. For nearly 20 years, he directed theatre productions such as Godspell, Into the Woods and a memorable staging of Les Misérables that earned a Tommy Tune Award and the opportunity for students to perform at the Hobby Center. Additionally, under Arthur’s direction, more students were selected to All-State than any other choir in the state of Texas.

As a teacher, Arthur was known for his charisma, warmth, and ability to connect deeply with students. He possessed a rare gift for drawing young people toward beauty, truth, and thoughtful inquiry. Many described him as a “Pied Piper”—a mentor whose enthusiasm was irresistible. He believed in challenging students intellectually while supporting them with compassion. “I know I hold the bar really high,” he once said, “but that’s part of good teaching. You hold the bar really high and then love them over it.”

One of Arthur’s most celebrated contributions was the annual Christmas concert featuring Handel’s Messiah, known affectionately over the last three decades as Messiah, this difficult score, rarely performed by high-school students, was a cornerstone of St Agnes/Strake Jesuit Mixed Chorus. As freshmen, students received their Messiah score in ceremonial fashion and it became a “yearbook” of sorts through all four years. To this day, alumni return annually to Messiah to sing the “Hallelujah” chorus.

It is this thread of continuity that promoted not only excellence and pride in tackling such impressive work, but also formed community, thus establishing a familial culture within St.Agnes/Strake Jesuit Mixed Chorus that follows through to this day. Arthur’s enthusiasm and dedication was infectious to all blessed enough to know him.

Community was important to Arthur. Arthur was a consummate gentleman and host. He used his gifts of artistry and creativity whenever possible. An avid floral designer and party planner, Art created beautiful florals for Masses as well as planned lavish faculty parties, one of the most memorable being Harry Potter themed where he created individual wands for each party goer and “floating candelabra” centerpieces.

Outside of St. Agnes, Arthur loved to travel, with England and Scotland being his most memorable excursions. A true Renaissance man, Arthur was an avid gardener and decorator, from planting bulbs for an Easter emergence to curating a Christmas display fit for the finest of hotels. Arthur was as comfortable in a tuxedo directing as he was in a quarter zip sipping a cold Pinot Grigio watching Outlander, next to his rescue cat “Mame”. True to his Irish roots he loved his steak and potatoes.

Arthur taught both freshman theology and a senior elective he designed himself. His senior course explored the philosophies—such as Freud, socialism, and existentialism—that have shaped modern culture, examining how these ideas appear in film, advertising, literature, and everyday life. He encouraged students to ask questions, wrestle with doubt, and seek understanding grounded in faith. “When I was growing up, doubt was sinful,” he reflected. “Times have changed, and this generation has more questions than we ever dreamt of. I enjoy giving children the tools to ask the right questions and permission to ask the right questions, while at the same time giving them good, solid Biblical information.”

Arthur W. Buckley leaves behind a legacy of artistry, scholarship, community and spiritual mentorship. His influence lives on in the thousands of students he taught, the countless performances he shaped, and the community he enriched with his creativity, humor, and unwavering dedication.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Agnes Academy in Meyer Hall on January 10 at 11:30 a.m., with Fr. John Rooney presiding.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Arthur Buckley Endowed Fund for Music and Fine Arts, ensuring that his lifelong devotion to the arts continues to inspire future generations. https://www.st-agnes.org/art-buckley-memorial-fund