Carl Hager, a native of Plymouth, Indiana, started studying at Holy Cross Seminary in 1927 and graduated from Notre Dame in 1935. Ordained a priest in Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Church on the 24th of June, 1939, he served as a graduate assistant in the Music Department, 1939-1941, while he studied for his M.A. in English. He then served as an instructor in the English Department and earned a M.Mus. degree from Depaul University in Chicago. He joined the faculty of the Music Department at Notre Dame in 1947 and became head of the department in 1955. While he was head of the department Notre Dame offered a new program in music education, offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Music Master's degrees. Father Hager composed both instrumental and vocal works, chamber music and choral music, cantatas and Masses. Father Hager is listed in some records as "G. Carl Hager," but always identified himself as "Carl Hager" on his compositions and on personnel forms.