Jeremy J. Kiolbassa is a lifelong Catholic, Chicagoan, and church musician. His earliest memories include folk tunes, played on guitar and sung by his father, James Kiolbassa, who led the contemporary group at his home parish, St. Hyacinth Basilica. These are mixed with the classical sounds of Polish tenor, Józef Homik, who led the music at all other liturgies of the parish, singing from the organ bench. These formative years, combined with an uncommon ability to play by ear, manifested a love for creative music making which has been a consistent thread through his entire life.

Jeremy’s musical training began relatively late while attending Whitney Young High School on Chicago’s Near West Side. He gained a great love of choral repertoire while singing under the baton of the school’s legendary choral director, Gloria Brown. He went on to study music education at VanderCook College of Music. Studying applied piano performance with Mary Ann Krupa and conducting with Dr. Robert Sinclair were particularly formative during this time. He went on to study organ with Dr. Elizabeth Naegele at Moody Bible Institute. He is an active performer as an organ recitalist, specializing in improvisation. In recent years he has continued to explore his love of plainchant and has made multiple trips to Solesmes, France, for study and prayer.

Jeremy has spent his entire career as a parish music director in his hometown, which considers to be both his passion and vocation. Nearly all his work as a composer is done in this context, and he prides himself on creating things that, above all else, elevate the prayers of the communities he serves.

David Bond was born and raised in Hyde Park, on Chicago's South Side. He studied music composition and orchestral conducting at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he met is now wife, Megan. Through a transformative experience during undergrad, playing piano for the Paschal Triduum, church music became his passion and career. He has been blessed with opportunities to make music in large venues with thousands in attendance and being aired on EWTN, but also at intimate Masses with a small but prayerful congregation. A Papal Mass, but also daily Masses in a chapel. With big church organs, trumpets, violins, and drums, and unaccompanied Masses with no instruments at all. He firmly believes that singing is our birthright as humans, and that it animates and unites us in a way that speech does not lending credence to the idea of “one body, many parts.”

Teresa Scalise is the Director of Music and Liturgy at Mary, Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge.  She was previously the Music Director at St. Bede the Venerable on the southwest side of Chicago.  

Teresa has a B.M. in Musical Theater from The Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) where she was privileged to study all things liturgically choral under Dr. Leo Nestor.

Mark A. Schmitz (known to many young choir members as "Mr. Mark") is the Director of Music for Saint Mary of Vernon Catholic Church in Indian Creek, IL, and serves as Membership and Outreach Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Chicago Chapter of NPM.

Mark's path into music ministry began as a boy singing in a charismatic choir alongside his mother, where he first witnessed the power of music to move a congregation in prayer. That early spark carried him through decades of ministry across Indiana, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, and even a mission in Jamaica during his years as a Franciscan Friar. Along the way, he studied Church Music and Liturgy at St. Joseph College, Catholic Liturgy and Theology at Catholic Theological Union, and spent a summer at St. Bonaventure University, in addition to earning his bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, with a specialization in non-profit administration, from Purdue University. A self-taught vocalist, pianist, organist, guitarist, composer, and choir director, Mark has served as a director of music and liturgy in parishes across four states, most recently in Evansville, IN, and Kissimmee, FL, before settling in the northern suburbs of Chicago in 2022.

A member of NPM since 1996, Mark brings both a musician's heart and a community-builder's instinct to the board, hoping to strengthen relationships among musicians, liturgists, and pastors throughout the Archdiocese. It's a principle he carries into every rehearsal, every liturgy, and now every board meeting: no one sings alone.

Mark lives in Round Lake, with his wife Michelle. Together they enjoy their blended family, which includes a daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren. In his free time, Mark enjoys movies, board games, puzzles, and creating music and video in his home studio.

Leanne Stoterau Hahn has proudly served the parish family of Saint Francis of Assisi in Orland Park, Il as Director of Music Ministry for the past 29 years. During her ministry tenure she has developed a successful and engaging  force of 150+ volunteer and professional singers and musicians.  As parish organist, pianist, choir director, children’s choir director, and music educator, Leanne’s approach is a holistic one, which includes vigorous recruiting, and spans the generations  seeking  to uncover all parishioners’  gifts for the good of the worshiping community.

Leanne holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, a Master of Arts in Liturgy and Music and certifications in Orff Schulwerk studies. Leanne is also an accomplished accordionist, and spends her day off teaching piano in the inner city through the Big Shoulders Foundation. Leanne has served on the Archdiocese of Chicago Office for Divine Worship Music Staff and is excited to be a part of this spirited and Spirit-led team.

She and her husband, James Hahn, a professional freelance and symphonic trumpeter are proud parents of 5 beautiful adult children and eagerly await God’s blessings of grandchildren  in the future!

Michael Ward currently serves as the Director of Pastoral Ministry for St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook in Northbrook, IL. He has a B.A. in Music Education from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI and is currently pursuing his M.A. in Pastoral Liturgy and Music at St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN. Michael has been behind some of the first ministries uniting from both St. Norbert and Our Lady of the Brook to serve the needs of all parishioners in the combined Catholic Community of Northbrook. Having been involved in Catholic music ministries since the 8th grade, Michael blends his experiences from all over the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee into his style of music ministry today.