Music Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi
Thomas Kean is the Director of Music for St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
St. Francis of Assisi has a beautiful L'Etourneau Organ.
Please click here to read more about our organ and view photographs.
August Organ Recital Series Monday evenings of August 9-30 at 7pm
August 9: I-Fang Chiang
I-Fang Chiang was born in Taiwan. She holds a BM in piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studied under the pianist Justin Blasdel and the harpsichordist Laurette Goldberg. She also studied Music Therapy and received a BMT degree at Eastern Michigan University. After her completing her internship as a music therapist at the University Hospital Health System-Heather Hill, Ohio, she studied both harpsichord and organ with Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra and James Wagner at Eastern Michigan University. She holds an MA in harpsichord performance and an MM in organ performance. During her studies, Ms. Chiang served as an organist at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Taylor, Michigan, and an accompanist for the children's choir at the First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has appeared as both an organ and harpsichord soloist, as well as a continuo player in numerous concerts. She most recently performed at the Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society Conference in Iowa. Currently, Ms. Chiang is pursuing a DMA in organ performance under Jesse Eschbach at the University of North Texas. She also studies harpsichord and fortepiano with Christoph Hammer.
August 16: Gale Kramer
A native of Cleveland, Gale Kramer retired in 2007 after thirty years as organist of the Rice Memorial Organ of Metropolitan Methodist Church in Detroit. Before that he served nine years as organist of Ann Arbor's First Congregational Church. From 1989 to 2004 he was the organist for Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He taught organ at Wayne State University from 1972 to 2005. In the academic year 1966-67 he taught music and organ and accompanied the college choir at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama. His organ teachers have included Ray Ferguson and Arthur Poister. At the University of Michigan he earned the DMA as a pupil of Marilyn Mason. Dr. Kramer has held several offices in the Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He was the program chairman of its 1997 regional convention in Ann Arbor. For that event he performed in the premiere of Robin Dinda's Festival for Organ and Brass Quintet. He translated the poetry of Paul Claudel, Le Chemin de la Croix (Stations of the Cross), which is read at performances of the organ work of that name by Marcel Dupré. In 1986 he translated the correspondence between French composer Olivier Messiaen and Ray Ferguson of the Detroit Chapter AGO that resulted in the commissioning of Messiaen's last major work, Livre du Saint Sacrement and its world premiere at Metropolitan Methodist Church.
August 23: David Wagner
David Wagner is Professor of Music and University Organist at Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. He is also the Program Director and the morning and afternoon host at WRCJ-FM, the classical public radio station in Detroit. He has also been Program Director of the former classical station in Detroit, WQRS, and has been a music host and program director at classical stations in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego (Tijuana). The recipient of the Arts Achievement Award from Wayne State University and the Palmer Christian Award from the University of Michigan, Wagner has appeared as organist harpsichordist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles and has hosted the nationwide broadcasts of the General Motors Detroit Symphony Orchestra programs . He was a student of Marilyn Mason's and was award a DMA degree in organ performance in 1980 from the University of Michigan. His compact disc recording, Bright and Clear, was the winner of the Detroit Music Awards for best solo recording in 1998, and his most recent recording, Let the Trumpet Sound with Emmy and Grammy award winning artists has been released this year. It also has won two awards in 2009 at the Detroit Music Awards for best classical recording and best ensemble recording. He is the co-editor and author of the book The Omnibus Guide to Classical Music.
August 30: Carol Fedewa
Carol's performance background includes a broad range of accompanist experiences; from church and wedding music to community chamber ensembles and musical theatre groups. With over ten years of service to St. Francis Parish, Carol has worn many musical hats including Director of the Sunday 5 Contemporary Ensemble, Music Coordinator for the Religious Education Program and St. Francis School Accompanist. She has combined these roles with various independent music and piano teaching activities and projects. A recent graduate of the University of Michigan, Carol completed the Masters in Church Music Program where she studied organ with Dr. Marilyn Mason. She has also performed in organ recitals featuring works of Messiaen, Reger, and Karg-Ehlert and participated in the U of M Student Organ Club recitals. It is always a joy to play the wonderful St. Francis Letourneau organ and she appreciates the opportunity to present this program on the recital series!
Musical Ensembles at St. Francis of Assisi
The Adult Choir
The St. Francis of Assisi Adult Choir is open to all people ages 14 and up. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. This choir sings at the Sunday 10:30 Mass, September through June.
The Assisi Ensemble
Open to anyone who is available to sing with this contemporary ensemble. They provide music at the Saturday 5:00 Mass, September through June.
Cantor
Open to anyone who would like to audition to serve as cantor at assigned Masses. The cantor proclaims the Word of God as psalmist, and directs and encourages the people in singing during liturgy. The Director of Music coordinates all auditions, practices and schedules.
The Children's Music Ensembles
The Children's Music Ensembles provide music at the 8:45 Sunday Mass, September through May.
The Junior Choirs: Grades
1-8. Rehearsals are on various Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
The St. Francis String Program: Grades
K-8. String Ensemble, Cello Class and Violin Class meet on Tuesdays between
2:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Handbell Choir
This choir is open to all who have the ability to read music and desires to ring. This ensemble rehearses weekly and plays at various Sunday Liturgies from September through May.
Resurrection Choir
Open to anyone who is available to sing at parish funerals as they occur throughout the year.
Music Links of Interest
The American Guild of Organists
The University of Michigan Musical Society