Uplifting Music to Praise God
God has bestowed upon His people the gift of song. God dwells within each human person, in the place where music takes its source. Indeed, God, the giver of song, is present whenever His people sing His praises. Here at Saint Ambrose, we strive to provide each person an opportunity to praise the Lord with music, no matter where you are in your faith journey. Join us!!!
The Mission of the Saint Ambrose Music Ministry is to encourage and uplift the body of Christ through high quality musical experiences that give glory to God.
Current members: click here for ministry practice site
Music Ministry Staff
Travis Jürgens
Director of Music Ministry
Michelle Cha
Minister of Performing Arts
Helen Lanzarotta
Parish Life/Music Ministry/Wedding Coordinator/Performing Arts
Cece Till
Director of the Handbell Choir
Jacob Bremkamp
Liturgical Musician
Allison Duniec
Liturgical Musician
Travis Jürgens
Director of Music Ministry
Travis Jürgens has been the Director of Music Ministry at Saint Ambrose Parish since July 2020. He won 2nd Prize and the President of the Jury Award at the 2019 Bucharest Music Institute International Conducting Competition. He has conducted the Rochester Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, and Denver Philharmonic, among others. He has worked with esteemed conductors, including Michael Tilson Thomas and Marin Alsop, who invited Travis to attend the Conductors Guild Composer/Conductor Workshop at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Jürgens has performed in the United States, Europe, and Japan. He has been praised as “a superior conductor” and “well on his way to becoming a major conductor in the world of symphony orchestras” (Opus Colorado). Musicians who have played under his baton have commented on his exceptional talent, dynamic musicianship, efficient rehearsals, and strong leadership.
The fully professional Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra appointed Jürgens as their next Music Director and Conductor in July 2018. Previously, he was the Music Director and Conductor of the Ohio Northern Symphony for five seasons, the Lima Area Youth Orchestra for three seasons, the Philharmonia of Kansas City for six seasons, the Associate Conductor of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and a cover conductor for the Colorado Symphony. He also held the position of Associate Conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre in Denver, where he received the Leon Guide Outstanding Conductor Award. Additional info is available at www.travisjuergens.com.
Clifton Strengths: Achiever, Futuristic, Maximizer, Relator, Strategic
Michelle Cha
Minister of Performing Arts
Michelle Cha has always had a love of balancing her faith and music. Her bachelor’s degree is from Ohio Northern University where she studied voice and piano. She studied with Kristen Osbun-Manley and Dr. Dennis Kratzer. At The University of Akron Michelle studied with Dr. Laurie Lashbrook for her master’s. She has taught pre-k through 8th grade band, music, choir, and drama. After working for both community and professional theaters she found God’s calling to help enrich the lives of St. Ambrose and she could not be happier.
Helen Lanzarotta
Parish Life/Music Ministry/Wedding Coordinator/Performing Arts
Helen Lanzarotta and her husband Mike have been members of Saint Ambrose for over 25 years. Helen started volunteering at Saint Ambrose as a PSR Catechist. She was hired in as a staff member in 2012 as a Preschool Aid. Since has since moved on to the very important roles of Music Ministry Assistant and the Parish Life Coordinator. Duties include assuring that all Masses, Prayer Services, and Liturgical celebration needs are met and covered. She also assists the Saint Ambrose School Campus Ministry team. Additionally, Helen instructs and prepares SA School and PSR children for Liturgical Ministry including Altar Servers, Lectors, Usher/Greeters and Sacristans, and she provides support to the Music Ministry Choirs. As a Wedding Coordinator here at the parish, she has the opportunity help engaged couples with planning logistics and ensuring that their wedding day is beautiful and memorable. Helen does not stop there though. She is also the Art & Environment Coordinator for the parish. Her best Saint Ambrose thought is that she gets to work with amazing people while also “helping them in some way to grown closer to Our Lord through ministry work and their receiving the Sacraments.”
Clifton Strengths: Developer, Achiever, Positivity, Maximizer, Relator
- HLanzarotta@StAmbrose.us
- 330.460.7343
Cece Till
Director of the Handbell Choir
Cece Till is currently a 2nd year student at Baldwin Wallace University studying both Music Therapy and Music Education. She has been a member of the St. Ambrose music ministry since she joined the Angels Choir in 2012. She has remained active in the music ministry, transitioning from the choir to cantoring with the FIAT Band at 5:00 mass starting in 2018. Everything came full circle when she got the position of Handbell Director here at Saint Ambrose this past summer of 2024, and she is so excited to work in the same ministry and community that she grew up in.
Jacob Bremkamp
Liturgical Musician
Jacob is a local Music Director, Private Vocal Coach, Composer, Arranger, Lyricist and Librettist working in the greater Northeast Ohio area. He also serves as the administrative assistant for The Cleveland Contemporary Players, the resident chamber ensemble for Cleveland State University’s School of Music. He earned his BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia (2010) and has worked as a freelance music director and accompanist for over a decade in Philadelphia, NYC, Washington DC, and Cleveland. His Broadway credits include rehearsal/ tech accompanist for Dear Evan Hansen at Arena Stage, as well as music transcriptionist for the world premier new musicals of Destiny of Desire and Snow Child. He received his Master of Music Degree in Composition from Cleveland State University (2022). He is also the composer of several new musicals, one of which, Poe is Dead, recently received its world premier concert reading through the CSU Vocal Theater Workshop.
Allison Duniec
Liturgical Musician
Allison is a versatile musician with over 15 years of experience playing piano and a proud alumni of the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. As a mother of two beautiful daughters, Allison balances her artistic pursuits with the joys of family life with her husband Mike. When she is not performing, she works as a nuclear medicine technologist at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. In her rare moments of free time, Allison loves to unwind with crocheting for the blanket ministry and friends. She likes to stay active with walking the metroparks or lifting weights at the gym.
Join our Music Ministry!
Cherubs Choir
Grades K-2 | Practice: Wednesdays from 4:00-4:30 PM from September to May
Choir usually meets in the church but also in the school music room. Cherubs choir is open to all. We perform at the Christmas Eve Mass and have a special spring performance as well. Cherubs also sometimes sing at the 9:00 Mass.
CONTACT: Michelle Cha, mcha@staschool.us and Helen Lanzarotta, hlanzarotta@stambrose.us
Angels Choir
Grades 3-8 | Practice: Tuesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 PM from September to May.
There are no auditions but we highly suggest joining Cherubs before joining Angels choir. This choir sings frequently at 9:00 Mass, and sings at special Masses including: Living Nativity, Christmas Eve and Day Masses, Easter, Lenten Masses, and more!
Worship the Lord with gladness; Come into His presence with singing. ~ Psalm 100:2
CONTACT: Michelle Cha, mcha@staschool.us and Helen Lanzarotta, hlanzarotta@stambrose.us
fiat Band
Grades 9 – 12, Open to all high school students
The fiat (Faith in Action Teens) Band plays at Sunday 5:00 pm Masses, in coordination with Confirmation and FIAT nights. Rehearsal is on Sunday, prior to Mass from 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm in the church. All instruments welcome!
CONTACT: Michelle Cha, mcha@staschool.us
fiat Choir & Cantors
Grades 7-12 | Rehearsal is on Sunday, prior to Mass from 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm in the church.
The fiat (Faith in Action Teens) Choir sings at Sunday 5:00 pm Masses, in coordination with Confirmation and FIAT nights. From the choir, members are then encouraged to become cantors for the mass!
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth. ~Psalm 57: 7, 9-11
CONTACT: Michelle Cha, mcha@staschool.us
Adult Choir
Rehearsal: Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 pm September through Pentecost
The choir sings weekly at the 10:30 am Sunday Masses from September through May. The choir also sings for Parish celebrations and holy days, including: Christmas, Easter, First Eucharist, Confirmation, etc.
CONTACT: Travis Jurgens, tjurgens@stambrose.us and Helen Lanzarotta, hlanzarotta@stambrose.us
Saturday 4:30 pm Vigil Mass Chamber Ensemble
Rehearsal: Saturday before mass at 3:45 pm in the Church
This is a great opportunity and an easy beginning into the Music Ministry at Saint Ambrose. Emphasis is singing melody, with an instrument or a few to enhance and encourage the congregation’s participation at mass.
CONTACT: Travis Jurgens tjurgens@stambrose.us
Instrumentalists
The instrumentalists rehearse with the cantors on Wednesdays from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm and play at weekly Masses from September through Pentecost.
Separate rehearsals are also scheduled during seasonal preparation for Christmas and Easter. Instrumentalists also play for holidays, including: Christmas, Easter, All Saints’ Day, etc. Instrumentalists include: flute, guitar, bass drum, trumpet, trombone, violin, oboe, etc.
CONTACT: Travis Jurgens, tjurgens@stambrose.us
I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ~I Corinthians 14:15
Cantors
Rehearsal: Wednesdays from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
The cantors volunteer their time and lead the congregation in song. Cantors are assigned to sing 2 – 3 liturgies a month. Based upon availability, cantors are also assigned to sing for all Parish Celebrations and Holy Days, including: Christmas, Easter, First Eucharist, Confirmation, etc.
CONTACT: Travis Jurgens, tjurgens@stambrose.us
Hand Bell Choir
Practice: Thursday 6:30 – 8:00 pm, September through Pentecost
We ring hand bells joyfully, prayerfully and for the glory of God! The hand bell choir plays a prelude song, before Communion and at other times during Mass once per month, as well as other prayer services during the year and holidays. Some background in music is helpful, but not necessary. We are looking for dedicated people who will attend practices each week and to play at Masses. Feel free to stop by after Mass or speak to any of the members to join!
New Life Choir
Rehearsals: second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 am, in the Church
The New Life Choir is a group that sings at funeral Masses, using their voices to console the family and friends of the deceased. We sing whenever there is a funeral held in the church. While the New Life Choir members are not required to be able to read music, they must have a love of singing!
CONTACT: Travis Jurgens, tjurgens@stambrose.us and Helen Lanzarotta, hlanzarotta@stambrose.us