About Cantata Academy

Founded in the fall of 1961, Cantata Academy, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to high caliber choral performance and outreach to communities throughout the Detroit metropolitan area and the world. The Chorale is an auditioned adult chorus of approximately 40 singers performing throughout Southeast Michigan. Each year we produce our own subscription concert series and hire out to orchestras, churches, and other concert series. The Cantata Academy Chorale has appeared with every major orchestra in the metropolitan Detroit area, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In addition, from 1973 through 2005, the Chorale made biennial tours to Europe.

The mission of the Cantata Academy Chorale is to be a premier professional choral organization in the Metropolitan Detroit area, recognized for our exemplary presentation of the finest choral music. By fostering an atmosphere in which fine vocalists may excel, we will share our love of music with our audiences and community.

The Chorale’s Music Director and Conductor is Mike Peterson.

Meet the Team

Artistic Director & Conductor

Mike Peterson

TBD

Collaborative Pianist

Debi Szeliga

For as long as she can remember, Debi Szeliga has been sitting behind the keyboard completely engulfed in the world of music. She grew up in a home where music, mostly classical, was always playing. Her parents recognized this interest and spent years encouraging and supporting musical excellence. (Thanks Mom and Dad!) This attraction eventually grew beyond a fascination and has taken her on an incredible professional journey.

She completed her Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University in Detroit in 2002. From there, her studies took her to Ann Arbor where she completed her Master of Music Degree from the University of Michigan in 2006. Go Warriors and Go Blue! In both programs, she studied Church Music and Organ.

For the past 25 years, Debi has served in churches across Metro-Detroit in various capacities. Currently, she is the Collaborative Pianist/Organist for First United Methodist Church of Troy (FUMCT). In addition to her position at FUMCT, she works at Dakota High School in Macomb where she accompanies the choral program.

Debi resides in Clinton Township with her husband of 18 years, Peter, and their 4 year old golden retriever, Henry, her pride and joy! In her spare time, Debi also enjoys trying her hand at the cello. It has been a life-long dream of hers to play in a symphony. In 2018, she finally made that dream a reality. She joined the Detroit Community Orchestra and performed for several seasons. Dreams do come true!

Debi is grateful to the Cantata Academy Chorale for the great honor of performing alongside such amazing musicians.

Board of Directors

2024-2025

Alisha Gawlik, President
Robert Vreeland, Vice President
Anne Hillman, Secretary
Kim Bryson, Treasurer

Directors:

Nicki King
Lorrie McVey
Megan Mueller
Catherine Rayes
Margaret Reese
Jessica Rogal

Lisa Smith

2023-2024 Membership

SOPRANOS

Sara Ball*

Kim Bryson

Anne Hillman

Elizabeth Knapp

Lorrie McVey

Megan Meloche

Catherine Rayes

Lisa M. Smith

Karen Springer

Diana Thornbury

Michelle Woodman

BASSES

John Callaghan

Bill Fazekas

Cameron Jarzembowski

Jon Margerum-Leys

Paul McVey

John Morley

Roderick Reese*+

Robert Vreeland

ALTOS

Dodie Berry

Kate Bilinski

Trudy Bradley

Virginia Di Bella

Alisha Gawlik

Karyn Goff

Nicole King

Ashley Lesser

Julie Margerum-Leys

Maggie Reese*

Jessica Rogal+

TENORS

Jacob Boor

Ken Fuhr

Kevin Savel*

Larry Wolf

*Section Leader +Singer’s Advocate

Our History

Get to Know Us

Cantata Academy Chorale is an intergenerational group of musicians from the Metropolitan Detroit area, dedicated to excellence in the performance of classical and contemporary choral literature. The Chorale consists of members who are music educators, directors of school and church ensembles, solo artists, and experienced singers.

Cantata Academy Chorale has a rich 60-year history beginning in the fall of 1961, with their first performance in the spring of 1962. Founded by Kurt A. Stoebel and Arthur Stephan, the intent was to perform early Renaissance music seldom heard in the Detroit area. Following conductor Arthur Stephan, Cantata was led for twenty-five years by the beloved Federick Bellinger, then ten years under Dr. Michael Mitchell, and two years under Maurice Draughn. Cantata's fifth Artistic Director and Conductor is Susan Catanese, currently serving her eleventh year of leadership.

A Rich History

Cantata Academy Chorale has toured Europe sixteen times and has performed in twenty-three countries. In an effort toward community outreach, Cantata Academy Chorale offers a Young Artist Scholarship Program. The Chorale continues to provide the Metropolitan Detroit community artistic and cultural performances, and provides singers the opportunity to enhance their musical knowledge and skills, encouraging the value of a lifelong endeavor.

Here are a few highlights from the past several years:

2014: In March, a combined Opera Choruses concert with Madrigal Chorale; in May, a moving performance of the Verdi "Requiem" with the Community Chorus of Detroit, orchestra and soloists commemorating the Terezin concentration camp prisoners.

2013: In March, Cantata performed a concert with Measure for Measure, featuring the Biebl "Ave Maria"; in December Cantata had a special holiday concert with the Warren Symphony Orchestra featuring Karl Jenkins’ "Gloria".

2012: In November, Cantata joined forces with the Warren Symphony Orchestra, other ensembles and soloists for Carl Orff’s "Carmina Burana"; in December, Cantata performed the Vivaldi "Gloria" with the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra.

2011: In June, Cantata celebrated our landmark 50th Season of song with a concert, gala dinner and silent auction at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Park. We invited a Celebration Choir of our former singers to with us; repertoire included favorite selections from past years. In October, a collaboration featuring Dello Joio's "A Jubilant Song" with the Stoney Creek High School Chamber Singers and Detroit Metropolitan Youth Ensembles Handbell Choir; in December, J.S. Bach’s "Magnificat" with the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra.

2010: In April, Cantata performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in collaboration with the Detroit Civic Orchestra and three other area choral groups.

2009: In October, Cantata Academy Chorale featured Young Artists in our annual fall performance.

2008: In April, Cantata Academy collaborated with the Pontiac-Oakland Symphony to perform Verdi’s Requiem at Detroit’s Orchestra Hall.

2005: In July, The Cantata Academy Chorale performed a fundraising concert for a local Children's Hospital at the Jesuitic Church of the Holy Redeemer in Bratislava, Slovak Republic as part of its 2005 European Tour.

2004: In April, Cantata Academy performed Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Ralph Vaughn Williams’ In Windsor Forest with the Oakland Symphony and Oakland University choruses

2003: In March, Cantata Academy performed Bruckner’s Mass No. 2 in E-Minor with a 15-wind ensemble from the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings; in April, Cantata Academy and the Warren Symphony Orchestra performed Berlioz’s Lelio with soloists.

2002: In March, Cantata Academy and the Southfield Philharmonic performed Vivaldi’s Gloria with soloists and orchestra; In April, Cantata Academy performed Stravinky’s Mass with soloists and a double wind quintet from the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings; In April, Cantata Academy performed Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with soloist Jacquelyn Wagner, organ, harp and percussion.

2001: In April, Cantata Academy, the Pontiac Oakland Symphony, bass soloist John Paul White, and members of the Oakland University choral ensembles performed Mussorgsky’s “Coronation Scene” from Boris Godunov and Boito’s “Prologue” to Mefistofele.

2000: In April, Cantata Academy, the Detroit Archdiocesan Chorus, soloists and orchestra performed Verdi’s Requiem.

1999: In February, Cantata Academy performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Orchestra Hall in a series of pops concerts.

Cantata Academy has also produced professional recordings. The latest recording “That Music Always Round Me,” is available on compact disc. Purchase your copy here!