Cantata Academy Chorale
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 Michael Peterson. He took the helm in fall 2024.
Meet the Team
Artistic Director & Conductor
Michael Peterson
Michael Peterson retired after 30 years of teaching choirs. His first three years were in Reese Public Schools as a general music teacher (grades 1-6) and choral director of the Middle and High School Choirs. He spent 20 years at Clarkston Community Schools directing the High School, Junior High, and Middle School Choirs, overseeing five daily
choirs, and the music director of the annual musicals. He also spent six years as Director of Choirs at Walled Lake Northern High School. While there, he directed four daily
choirs, and was the producer and music director of the annual musical.
Mike’s choirs have performed in New York City, Chicago, St. Louis, and internationally in Venice, Florence, and Rome Italy, including a performance for a Vatican mass. His choir has also performed for the Tuscany Choral Festival held in Montecatini Terme, Italy.
Peterson received his Bachelor of Music Education with a conducting emphasis, studying with Dr. Nina Nash-Robertson at Central Michigan University. He then returned there later to get his Masters of Music in Voice Performance, studying with Mr. Timothy Caldwell. He currently sings in Beyond Choir, Detroit Concert Choir, and Choral Arts of Michigan.
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
Megan Mueller, Vice President
Anne Hillman, Secretary
Kim Bryson, Treasurer
Directors:
Mary Ellen Bross
Nicki King
Andrew Miller
2025-2026 Membership
SOPRANOS
Sara Ball*
Kim Bryson
Shell Duquet
Anne Hillman
Elizabeth Knapp
Lorrie McVey
Megan Meloche
Megan Mueller
Catherine Rayes
Lisa M. Smith
Karen Springer
Diana Thornbury
BASSES
Lance Boylan
Chris Lenhardt
Jon Margerum-Leys
Paul McVey
John Morley
Roderick Reese*+
Robert Vreeland
ALTOS
Heather Adams
Dodie Berry
Kate Bilinski
Sharon Boylan
Trudy Bradley
Mary Ellen Bross
Alisha Gawlik
Nicole King
Ashley Lesser
Julie Margerum-Leys
Mary Morgan
Maggie Reese*
Jessica Rogal+
Heather Smith
TENORS
Tony Johnson
Andrew Miller *
Michael White
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!