Meet the Music Ministry Team
The music ministry at our parishes is supported by singing congregants, volunteer choir members, vocalists, instrumentalists and on occasion, guest musicians brought in to fulfill a specific need. We passionately pursue and strive to help others produce high quality music so that we may be blessed with previews of the spiritual music of Heaven. Our Music Director, Resident Cantor and guest musicians are skilled in the art of creating music to enrich mass and special liturgical themes. You are invited to meet members of our music ministry and guest musicians by viewing their biographical information below.
*Please note, musicians listed below are available to play at masses, weddings, funerals and other special services outside of the parish, and should be contacted directly on their personal contact links provided in their respective bios.
*Please note, musicians listed below are available to play at masses, weddings, funerals and other special services outside of the parish, and should be contacted directly on their personal contact links provided in their respective bios.
Claudette Belair ~Director of Music
Claudette has over 25 years experience assimilating pastoral and liturgical skills with music having successfully served as an organist, music director and elementary school music teacher in both the Worcester Diocese and Boston Archdiocese. While serving in her many roles, she continuously strives to apply her musical skills and in depth knowledge of liturgy to create more prayerful parish services. In coordination with the pastor, she is responsible for choosing and performing music for weekly Masses, Holy Days, funerals, weddings and seasonal programs. She has considerable experience conducting and accompanying adult and children choirs, training cantors and coordinating performances with solo instrumentalists.
She has extensive experience teaching pre-school through grade 8 as a licensed music teacher in the Worcester Public Schools, Worcester and Boston Catholic Diocesan Schools. While at Immaculate Conception School, Marlborough, she was responsible for developing and implementing the music curriculum in support of the School’s successful completion of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) re-accreditation. She also served as the music teacher at Assumption School for over 10 years. Throughout her teaching tenure, she focused student learning on a standards based music curriculum integrating music fundamentals, theory, singing, movement, history and performance in school programs and liturgical celebrations.
Claudette holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with concentrations in music education and piano performance from Anna Maria College and has taken graduate courses at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Hartt School of Music. Additionally, she has successfully completed Organ Performance and Music Director/Organist classes through the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Organization.
Email: [email protected]
Claudette has over 25 years experience assimilating pastoral and liturgical skills with music having successfully served as an organist, music director and elementary school music teacher in both the Worcester Diocese and Boston Archdiocese. While serving in her many roles, she continuously strives to apply her musical skills and in depth knowledge of liturgy to create more prayerful parish services. In coordination with the pastor, she is responsible for choosing and performing music for weekly Masses, Holy Days, funerals, weddings and seasonal programs. She has considerable experience conducting and accompanying adult and children choirs, training cantors and coordinating performances with solo instrumentalists.
She has extensive experience teaching pre-school through grade 8 as a licensed music teacher in the Worcester Public Schools, Worcester and Boston Catholic Diocesan Schools. While at Immaculate Conception School, Marlborough, she was responsible for developing and implementing the music curriculum in support of the School’s successful completion of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) re-accreditation. She also served as the music teacher at Assumption School for over 10 years. Throughout her teaching tenure, she focused student learning on a standards based music curriculum integrating music fundamentals, theory, singing, movement, history and performance in school programs and liturgical celebrations.
Claudette holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with concentrations in music education and piano performance from Anna Maria College and has taken graduate courses at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Hartt School of Music. Additionally, she has successfully completed Organ Performance and Music Director/Organist classes through the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) Organization.
Email: [email protected]
Melissa Turner ~ Cantor
Melissa Turner is the resident cantor at Assumption and Saint Brigid Parishes. She was raised in Sturbridge, MA, and began vocal study in her teen years with Peter Hart who is currently a music professor at Anna Maria College’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. Melissa’s career as a church cantor and soloist began with the First Unitarian Church in Worcester. She has sung at Masses, religious services, weddings and funerals throughout Central Massachusetts.
Her interests in music are eclectic, ranging from jazz through the classical repertoire. Her recent performances outside our parishes include the “Alleluia” from Mozart’s cantata, Exultate Jubilate, at Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Worcester and Hoagy Carmichael’s, “Georgia Brown,” at Saint Anne’s in Fiskdale at a benefit for Kids in the Congo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children of Congo receive an education and a chance at a better life. As a cantor, Melissa firmly believes what St. Augustine so beautifully said with regard to sacred music, “Only the one who loves can sing, and the voice of that singer is filled with the fervor of holy love.”
Melissa lives in Charlton, MA with her husband and two children.
Email: [email protected]
Melissa Turner is the resident cantor at Assumption and Saint Brigid Parishes. She was raised in Sturbridge, MA, and began vocal study in her teen years with Peter Hart who is currently a music professor at Anna Maria College’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. Melissa’s career as a church cantor and soloist began with the First Unitarian Church in Worcester. She has sung at Masses, religious services, weddings and funerals throughout Central Massachusetts.
Her interests in music are eclectic, ranging from jazz through the classical repertoire. Her recent performances outside our parishes include the “Alleluia” from Mozart’s cantata, Exultate Jubilate, at Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Worcester and Hoagy Carmichael’s, “Georgia Brown,” at Saint Anne’s in Fiskdale at a benefit for Kids in the Congo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children of Congo receive an education and a chance at a better life. As a cantor, Melissa firmly believes what St. Augustine so beautifully said with regard to sacred music, “Only the one who loves can sing, and the voice of that singer is filled with the fervor of holy love.”
Melissa lives in Charlton, MA with her husband and two children.
Email: [email protected]
Music Ministry Adult Choir
Members currently include: Linda Boll, Jim Candalino, Joel Cullen, Pauline D'Auteiul, Claire Despres, Jim Geneva, Joanne Geneva, Marlene Horner, Felice Jakubiak, Ted Jakubiak, Lise Magnuson, Martha Sampson and Paul Tarasiak.
The gift of music is a treasure to be shared and if you wish to share your voice, we are always welcoming new members to join our choir. If you are interested, please send me an email and I will get back to you promptly.
Members currently include: Linda Boll, Jim Candalino, Joel Cullen, Pauline D'Auteiul, Claire Despres, Jim Geneva, Joanne Geneva, Marlene Horner, Felice Jakubiak, Ted Jakubiak, Lise Magnuson, Martha Sampson and Paul Tarasiak.
The gift of music is a treasure to be shared and if you wish to share your voice, we are always welcoming new members to join our choir. If you are interested, please send me an email and I will get back to you promptly.
Kevin Burokas ~ Guest Cellist
Kevin has been a guest cellist at Saint Brigid’s and has performed at multiple churches throughout central and eastern Massachusetts. He began his study of the cello at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and later continued at Pakachoag Community Music School. Kevin studied privately with strings teachers from the Albany Symphony, English Symphony Orchestra and the Springfield Symphony.
As an undergraduate at Sacred Heart University, Kevin was principal cello and a founding member of SHU String Ensemble where he received coaching and viola instruction. He has played in performances of the Bach Magnificat and Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor at St. Patrick’s in Whitinsville with the Blackstone Valley Community Chorus and has played in the cello and viola sections of the Hamden Symphony Orchestra and the Old Post Road Orchestra. Kevin is currently a member of the Quincy Symphony and plays on the Tuscan handcrafted Romanian cello (2004).
Kevin has a passion for playing music in a variety of settings, both religious and classical, and believes in the power of music as a tool to connect with the human spirit. He believes in the value of musical outreach through music therapy, has initiated and participated in multiple string educational programs, and teaches violin, viola, and cello on the South Shore.
To learn more about Kevin visit his website (http://kevinburokas.wix.com/kevin-burokas)
Email: [email protected]
Kevin has been a guest cellist at Saint Brigid’s and has performed at multiple churches throughout central and eastern Massachusetts. He began his study of the cello at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts and later continued at Pakachoag Community Music School. Kevin studied privately with strings teachers from the Albany Symphony, English Symphony Orchestra and the Springfield Symphony.
As an undergraduate at Sacred Heart University, Kevin was principal cello and a founding member of SHU String Ensemble where he received coaching and viola instruction. He has played in performances of the Bach Magnificat and Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor at St. Patrick’s in Whitinsville with the Blackstone Valley Community Chorus and has played in the cello and viola sections of the Hamden Symphony Orchestra and the Old Post Road Orchestra. Kevin is currently a member of the Quincy Symphony and plays on the Tuscan handcrafted Romanian cello (2004).
Kevin has a passion for playing music in a variety of settings, both religious and classical, and believes in the power of music as a tool to connect with the human spirit. He believes in the value of musical outreach through music therapy, has initiated and participated in multiple string educational programs, and teaches violin, viola, and cello on the South Shore.
To learn more about Kevin visit his website (http://kevinburokas.wix.com/kevin-burokas)
Email: [email protected]