About Tony Sievert, our Music Director
Tony grew up in Northville, Michigan and at an early age began playing and singing in front of the congregations of his home parish, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church.
He attended Northville High School and later Eastern Michigan University, graduating Magnum Cum Laude with a B.S. in Communications (rather ironic!) In the Summer of 2007 he graduated with a Master's Degree in Pastoral Liturgy and Music from St. Joseph's College in Rensellaer, Indiana.
While at Eastern, Tony was heavily involved in the band and choir programs within the music department as well as the music ministry at Holy Trinity Student Chapel. In 1992, he began accompanying the chapel choir, and by the next year was the choir director. In 1997, he took the position of music director for Holy Trinity.
Tony's emphasis in undergraduate studies was in broadcasting and specifically radio broadcasting. While working as music director at Holy Trinity he was also the morning producer for WEMU's local broadcast of "Morning Edition", and occasionally filled in for local morning news host, David Fair.
It was also at WEMU that Tony met his wife, Kimberly. They met in 1996, married in 1998, and currently live in Dexter. Kimberly has a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. In the Fall of 2005, Tony and Kimberly welcomed their first child, Carmen Rose to their family. In December of 2007, Tony and Kimberly's second child, Dominic Avery was born.
Tony began as Music Director for St. Joseph Church in Dexter in 1999. In that time, he has sought to expand the music ministry in the same fashion that the parish community itself continues to expand. Not only has he maintained the quality Choir and Cantor programs in place when he arrived, but has also initiated a Contemporary Music Ensemble,
Children's Choir (2-5 Grade), Junior Choir (6-9 Grade), Handbell Choir, as well as the involvement of youth and adult instrumentalists at liturgy, Palm Sunday Passion Dramatization, and praise and music components to our Religious Education Program. The dedication of the new St. Joseph Church in March of 2008 was perhaps one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences Tony has ever taken part in professionally.
In addition to treasuring time spent with Kimberly, Carmen, and Dominic, Tony enjoys playing with the Rock and Roll/Oldies band, "Men In Black" which plays out quite often. He is also an avid Pistons, Tigers, Lions, and U of M sports fan.
Tony is a member of the National Associate of Pastoral Musicans, Director of Music Ministries Division, the Ann Arbor chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is a member of the Diocese of Lansing Worship Commission. He has directed Diocesan liturgies, has sung at the NPM National Convention, and has recently become involved as a workshop presenter on music and liturgy topics.
Tony feels very grateful to be working full-time in ministry and for the lives he is able to touch with music.