Between the Hearts by Fr. Craig Giera
I’m pleased to announce that Derek Szlauer has been hired as our new full-time music minister starting next week. He is highly accomplished for his age, and I look forward to what his many gifts will bring to our Sacred Heart community. Below is his resume that I modified so as to be able to introduce him sooner than later in our bulletins:
I am a musician based in the Metro Detroit area with a lifelong dedication to piano performance. For nearly twenty years, I have studied, performed, and competed as a pianist, earning a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance. I have performed internationally in Poland, Canada, and the United States in a variety of concert halls and venues. As a classically trained pianist, I have developed a strong technical foundation that has allowed me to become well-versed in a variety of musical genres. I was trained by Dr. Robert Conway and Dr. Kazimierz Brzozowski while attending Wayne State University, and I currently continue studying piano and organ with Dr. Norah Duncan IV, Dr. Kazimierz Brzozowski, and Dr. Horst Bucholz. Throughout my education, I have participated in multiple music festivals, where I had the opportunity to work with respected faculty and perform alongside musicians from highly acclaimed institutions. My performance experience includes appearing as a featured soloist and collaborative pianist with orchestras, chamber ensembles, jazz bands, and pit orchestras for musical productions. I have also worked as an accompanist for numerous competitions and performances, allowing me to develop a strong network within the Detroit musical community.
I grew up in a Roman Catholic household, regularly attending Mass and participating in parish events. During a difficult period in my life, I questioned and eventually distanced myself from my faith. However, my experience as a camp counselor at Camp Sancta Maria during the COVID-19 pandemic became a pivotal moment in renewing my faith. With the encouragement and support of fellow counselors, many of whom were seminarians, I rediscovered my faith and developed a renewed sense of vocation and service. This experience ultimately led me to pursue church music as a way to serve others. Since then, I have served in the music ministries of several parishes throughout the archdiocese in various roles. At previous parishes, I worked to rebuild and strengthen the liturgical music programs. I had a hand in revitalizing the choir, reestablished weekly rehearsals, increased congregational participation, helped develop a children’s choir and ensemble, and introduced new repertoire while respecting music familiar to the choir and congregation. With my background in piano performance, church music, and leadership, along with my deep personal commitment to the Catholic faith and liturgy, I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the worship at Sacred Heart Parish. I am especially excited about the opportunity to serve and learn from the music ministry at Sacred Heart and contribute my own experience to help further grow and enrich its liturgical music program. I see this as an opportunity to continue developing as a church musician while serving the parish community with dedication, all the while continuing to grow in my faith and relationship with God and the people I serve.
Together let us pray for Derek and do as much as possible to welcome him with open arms. I’m sure once you hear him play you will be as impressed as I was.
Just a quick note for everyone at St. Kateri. Remember we will be switching back to the Nicene Creed instead of the Apostle’s Creed at the start of Advent. Even though Advent is still a bit away, it helps to get the word out early, so it is not a surprise to anyone.
In Christ,
Fr. Craig
