St. Anthony Hires New Director of Music

Meet Our New Director of Music at St. Anthony 

I am pleased to introduce Sam Michalak as the new Director of Music at St. Anthony. Sam brings an impressive range of musical experience, along with a deep faith and sincere desire to serve the Church. We are grateful that God has led him to our parish and look forward to the gifts he will share through our liturgies and parish life. Please join me in warmly welcoming Sam to St. Anthony and our parish community. I invite you to learn more about Sam in his own words below.  —Msgr. Ross Shecterle

Hi, I’m Sam Michalak, and I am grateful to join the St. Anthony parish family as Director of Music.

My love of music began at my home parish, St. Kilian, where I started piano lessons at age eight and later served as a cantor. I went on to study classical piano and vocal performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During college, I also served as music director for the Newman Center’s student Mass, where I grew in my appreciation for music’s role in the liturgy.

For the past two years, I lived in Nashville and worked as a full-time musician. I also continued serving the Church by playing for Masses and singing at Holy Rosary Parish. As my faith deepened, I felt called to place it more fully at the center of my life and work. That discernment led me to St. Anthony and to the JPII House in Shorewood, where I am now living in community. 

I look forward to getting to know you and serving the parish through music.