Paul Shafer, Chapter Director

Paul Shafer is the Music Director at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Garden City, MI. Paul earned his BMus with concentration in Organ Performance and Church Music with full scholarship under Professor Ray Ferguson at Wayne State University. Paul maintains a private teaching studio, President of the St. Clair Cultural Series, and Director of Worship for the Nankin Family of Parishes. Paul continues to perform throughout the Metro Detroit area and has been serving as NPM Detroit board member since 2015.

Jim Balistreri, Board Member

Jim Balistreri is the Music Director at St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Madison Heights. He has been singing and playing music in the Catholic Church since high school. Prior to becoming a full-time musician Jim spent nearly 30 years in the broadcast marketing and sales departments of local and national television operations finishing that phase of his career as the Director of Marketing at CBS-TV Detroit.

Deborah Frontczak, Board Member

Deborah Frontczak has served in various capacities as a music director, professional singer, and instrumentalist for over 40 years in parishes in Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Cleveland. Her music degrees are in Voice performance/pedagogy with a choral conducting minor: BA at Grand Valley State University; MM at Wayne State University; and Prof. Studies at Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied voice with Dr. Mary Schiller and Dean Southern. Her organ studies were with Norah Duncan IV. Ms. Frontczak is a well-known clinician in the area of vocal workshops for choirs and cantors. She loves helping singers further their knowledge of their instrument and secure the basics of producing a good tone. Ms. Frontczak has served on the NPM Detroit Board of Directors since 2011.

Mandy Gerstenbrand, Board Member - Treasurer

Mandy joined the board of NPM Detroit as the treasurer in 2017. She has over 20 years of experience in music ministry as a choir member, cantor, and instrumentalist. When she’s not involved in music, she’s busy with her three children, Kate (15), David (10), and Andrew (8), who keep her occupied with cross-country, robotics, hockey, and various school activities. Mandy has volunteered at their schools and served on PTA boards at both the unit and Council levels for the past 12 years.

Mark Newlon, Board Member

Mark has been the Director of Music at St. Colette in Livonia since 2018. Prior to that, he served in the same position for 27 years at St. Robert Bellarmine in Redford. His mottos for choir are, “Shoot for perfection; settle for mediocrity,” and, “Never live your life by a motto.” His favorite things in the world include traveling to oddball tourist destinations, torturing himself after work on Sundays as a fan of the Detroit Lions, and making music with friends and family. Mark is grateful for the opportunity to serve the musicians of NPM Detroit as a board member. He’s looking forward to collaboratively working with his colleagues in praise of God and in service of the Catholic Liturgy.

Kelly Rizzo-McLain, Board Member

Kelly Rizzo-McLain is a professional pianist and vocalist and has worked as a liturgical musician and choir director in the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Lansing since 2010.  She has served as director of music at Resurrection Parish in Canton, St. Joseph Parish in Dexter (Diocese of Lansing) and currently serves at Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn.    During her undergraduate studies, she was the accompanist at Bread of Life Lutheran Church in Hudsonville, Michigan and at St. Luke’s University Parish in Allendale, Michigan.   During her time in the Diocese of Lansing, Kelly sat on the Board of Directors for the Lansing Chapter of NPM and also served on the Diocesan Worship Commission.  She has also worked as an accompanist for local choirs throughout the Metro Detroit area, including BeckRidge Chorale in Plymouth, Michigan.  Kelly has also enjoyed organizing and performing with local musicians  at the Sacred Heart Summer Concert Series.  In addition to her work as music director, she maintains a small studio of private piano students. 

Kelly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Grand Valley State University.  During her time at GVSU she studied with Van Cliburn medalist Aviram Reichert.  She also was a founding member of the GVSU New Music Ensemble and can be heard on their recording of Steve Reich’s composition Music for 18 Musicians.  Recorded in January of 2007, the album was named among the top recordings of the year by the New York Times, L.A. Weekly, The Rest Is Noise, and New York Magazine while reaching the top of iTunes’ and Amazon’s classical charts.  The album spent eleven weeks on Billboard’s top 25 classical crossover chart, and was named one of the top five classical recordings of the decade by WNYC.  The ensemble performed at the 2007 “Bang on a Can” New Music Festival at the World Financial Center in New York City, and they have been featured on National Public Radio.  Kelly also earned a Master’s of Music Degree from Michigan State University where she studied Music Theory Pedagogy.

Kelly currently lives in Canton with her husband, Dan, and their two children. 

Ana Jaquim, Board Member - Media / Website

Ana serves as a musician at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Rochester. She is an experienced entrepreneur, performer, and marketer. Growing up in Mexico, she found her passion for music through one of El Sistema's sister organizations and became dedicated to igniting change for underrepresented communities. During her college journey, she moved to the Metro Detroit Area in Michigan, where she founded the booking agency, Preludio Entertainment, LLC. to connect and employ string musicians in the area. She is also a recent graduate of Wayne State University and holds her Bachelor of Music in Music Business. Currently is the Director of Marketing & Digital Productions of Chamber Music Detroit bringing together inspired musicians and passionate listeners for extraordinary chamber music experiences. Ana has served on the NPM Detroit Board since 2021.

Amy Righi, Board Member

Music and Liturgy Director at St. Isidore Church. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Amy has treasured her eclectic experiences in sacred music from urban to suburban parishes and beyond, spanning the last 50 years. Early contributions in sacred music include Responsorial Psalms with “Psalms in His Presence” collections for the church years A, B and C and Feasts and Solemnities. Published with International Liturgy Publications, her Lenten Mass setting “Mass of Wondrous Love” and other compositions and recordings can be found at ILPMusic.org. Amy is also a member of the Liturgical Composer’s Forum started by John Foley, S.J. dedicated to the on-going formation and collaboration of published composers of sacred music. With a B.S. in Vocal music Education and an M.A. in English and Literature from Oakland University, she has enjoyed mentoring youth as a high school choral director, English teacher, parish youth ensemble director and private voice and piano instructor. Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Isidore church in Macomb, MI since 2008, Amy cherishes crafting music and worship experiences with her talented colleagues, ensembles and parish family for the glory of God and the sanctification of his people. Amy also enjoys singing professionally with the Michigan Caroling Co. and a recently formed a cappella women’s quartet, Came. Favorite activities include windsurfing, snowboarding, tennis, hiking and golfing with her handsome husband and three amazing (and eligible) sons. Amy has served on the NPM Detroit Board since 2023.

Jill Goryca, Board Member

Jill Goryca is an independent musician serving Catholic churches in the Metro Detroit area as a cantor, pianist, and organist. Most recently, she ministered at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center in Detroit, MI. She has been singing at church and developing her keyboard skills since she was a little girl. She holds a Piano Teacher's Certificate from Schoolcraft College. In addition to her musical endeavors, Jill works as a vehicle dynamics engineer and is an avid flower and vegetable gardener.

Fr. Gary Michalik, Chaplain of NPM Detroit