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St.
Anastasia Catholic Church Church Website: www.stanastasiawaukegan.org/parishhome.html Music Ministry Rita Byrd, Music Director |
 Dear People of St. Anastasia, I am honored to have been asked and excited about joining you as your parish Music Director! I have had the pleasure of knowing some of you for many years, and am looking forward to meeting all the members of this wonderful parish family! By way of introduction, here’s a little background…. I was baptized by Fr. Cull at Holy Family Church in North Chicago, raised at Immaculate Conception, where I attended the grade school (and yes, I was one of those excited students who saw Fr. Cull roller skating down the hallways and playing his trumpet!) and grew up singing soprano next to my Mom in the parish choir. My parents, Bob and Rita Schueneman, were very active with many parish activities – School, I sang in the choirs and musical productions and continued to serve at I.C., playing the “guitar Mass” and singing with the choir. My college years were spent studying music at the College of Lake County and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and when home, continued to…you guessed it…sing with the I.C. choirs. I also performed with several local groups, was vocal soloist for many weddings and was selected to sing and dance professionally at Disneyland. I later returned to Immaculate Conception to teach music in the elementary school and serve as the parish Music Director. My husband, Mark, and I were married at I.C. and our son, Austin, was baptized there. After serving as Music Director, our I.C. “Contemporary Ensemble” evolved into “La Dolce Musica” and we were happily involved with St. Anastasia’s music ministry at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass for nine years! I’ve also been the Music Director at St. Bartholomew, Choir Director at Our Lady of Humility, Cantor at St. Joseph, Libertyville, Cantor/Choir member at St. Patrick’s in Wadsworth and most recently as the Liturgical Music Director at Carmel Catholic High School. Directing the Gurnee Park District’s community chorus, the “Viking Park Singers”, continuing as a professional soloist and teaching private voice students also continue to be musical activities in my life.  While these varied experiences have taught me much – the most valuable lesson has been that each of us possesses a God-given talent that we can share for His honor and glory to enrich and enhance our faith community! And so, I have an invitation for you! Search your heart – what gift of time and talent can you share? Do you possess a musical talent that you can share at our liturgies? If so, I would love to hear from you! Singers, pianists, guitarists, woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, harp….just to name a few…whether your commitment can be large or small, please let me know what you care to share. Are you a great organizer? I could use help with our music libraries! Have you played handbells? My invitation goes to each of you - children, teens, adults – please join me – let me know what you can do - be a part of our music ministry! I’m looking forward to “singing” God’s praises with you! Rita Byrd |
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