National Association of Pastoral Musicians
Detroit Chapter
NPM Detroit Composer’s Corner
Featuring local liturgical composers
Sarah Dudek
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Biography
Sarah Dudek, a native of the Archdiocese of Detroit, has been active in music ministry since her days in Children's Choir at St. Mary's of the Hills in Rochester Hills, MI. Raised in a musical family, Sarah has sung and played piano from a young age, singing in choir at church, at school, leading praise and worship from the piano, and creating vocal arrangements of contemporary Christian songs for her four sisters. Her love of classical music led to her majoring in piano performance at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, during which time, Sarah became more and more involved in choirs and sacred music. From accompanying the Xavier Concert Choir, to singing in Bellarmine Chapel's Schola Cantorum, to pioneering the University's first liturgical music internship, Sarah spent all her time absorbing what she could of sacred music and its use in the Mass.
Upon graduation, Sarah moved back to Detroit, starting as the director of music at St. Alfred Parish in Taylor. During that time, she joined the NPM Detroit board of directors, where she served for several years. In 2013, Sarah accepted the position of director of music at St. John Vianney in Shelby Township, where she was called upon to build a music ministry from the ground up. By the time she left the position in 2022, she was directing an adult choir, a junior high schola and band, a children's choir, and a high school symphonic band. While at St. John Vianney, Sarah was nominated and elected onto the Archdiocesan Academy of Sacred Music, serving later as the subdean and then dean of the academy. In 2020, amidst the pandemic, Sarah became active in the Antiphon Project initiative, whose aim was to set the antiphon texts for the Mass in a variety of musical styles for parish churches' use. Sarah has set an Introit, Offertory, and Communion antiphon for every Sunday and Solemnity of the three years of the liturgical cycle. Her goal was to show off the beauty of the texts of the Mass for those who had never heard of an antiphon before. The music presented here is from among that collection.
In 2020, Sarah helped establish the student Mass at St. John Fisher Chapel, providing music and building up a student choir for 2 years. In 2021, Sarah founded The Joshua Chorale, a community chorus that brings sacred music to unconventional venues. Their concerts have taken them from the Renaissance Center in Detroit, to the Guardian Building, to the Historic Redford Theatre. In 2022, Sarah started as the director of music at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Beverly Hills, MI, where she serves to this day.
dudek.sarah.e@gmail.com
Upcoming Events
NPM Detroit Student Scholarships
Beginning in the fall of 2025, NPM Detroit will offer two scholarships to middle school through college age students who actively participate in music ministry. Make a donation using Zelle here.
Bishop Mark Seitz Challenge
Bishop Mark Seitz issued a challenge to members of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) during the 2024 NPM Convention. He encouraged everyone to contribute what they can to support the financial needs of NPM. This initiative aims to foster the art of musical liturgy within the Catholic Church by ensuring the organization can continue its mission through the generosity of its members and supporters.
Are you interested in participating or learning more about this challenge?
NPM Detroit has collected and donated $450 at our events toward this challenge since July 2024.
Community Events
A calendar for all pastoral musicians in the Metro Detroit Area! Is your choir having a presentation? Have a concert in your parish? Let’s add it to the community calendar.
About Us
The National Association of Pastoral Musicians fosters the art of musical liturgy. The members of NPM serve the Catholic Church in the United States as musicians, clergy, liturgists, and other leaders of prayer. (NPM Mission Statement)
