-
Meet Our Music Ministry Staff
Ben Koval serves as Director of Music and is a homegrown product of St. Gerard Parish. Ben graduated from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids with degrees in music education (choral) and liturgical music. While at Aquinas, Ben studied piano with Mary Hurd, organ with Larry Biser, and voice with Barbara Witham McCargar and Diane Biser. Additionally, Ben completed supplemental studies in voice with Dr. Dan Ewart. He has served in multiple parishes in Michigan and Ohio and has 14 years of experience in a parish setting. Ben is an active member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) and is currently Chapter Director for the Diocese of Lansing Chapter. Additionally, has served on local chapter boards and the executive planning committee for the 2015 NPM National Convention in Grand Rapids. Ben also sits on the Lansing Diocesan Worship Committee. Ben, his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughters, Ella and Lilly, are blessed to call St. Gerard home.
Olivia Vargas serves as the St. Gerard Children's Choir director and also director of the Alive Ensemble at the 6 pm mass.
Vargas is a Detroit native who found her way to Grand Rapids, MI through Aquinas College. Olivia studied with an emphasis in voice and secondary instruments of piano and organ. Olivia graduated with a Bachelors of Music in Liturgical Music in 2018 after completing an internship with Jane VanHouten at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Grand Rapids, MI. Olivia has had the opportunity to study with professionals such as Barbara McCargar, Kathy Gibson, Giuseppe Lupis, Larry Biser, Shaylen Harger, and recently world renowned Jazz pianist, Aaron Parks.
Through the later part of her college career, Olivia made connections in the West Michigan music scene and started playing in local bands. Vargas is the keyboardist in Conrad Shock + the Noise, the front woman of the band August, and also frequently performs solo. She has had the opportunity to play in countless venues stretching from Michigan to New York City. Some notable successes for her band in the past years have been winning the 2016 WYCE Emerging Artist of the Year, winning the 2018 Walk the Beat Best Band, being nominated for Best Pop Album and Best Album in the 2019 Jammie Awards, and earning a spot on the Local Spins Hot Top 5 on WYCE 88.1 FM in 2020.
Olivia has also given piano and voice lessons for over five years. She has been an instructor at many places around Grand Rapids including Southtown Guitar and Triumph Music Academy as well as taught private lessons both in person and virtually. She loves to play all types of music, especially Christian Contemporary with the Alive ensemble where she can bring people closer to God through worship
Alexa Rumohr serves as the primary vocalist/worship leader of the "Alive" ensemble. Alexa is a graduate of Aquinas College in Grand Rapids with a degree in Community Leadership and Women’s Studies. While attending Aquinas, Alexa studied Liturgical Music, classical and contemporary voice, and piano. Alexa studied under Barbara McCargar, Kathy Gibson, and Mark Webb. Alexa is a former member of Aquinas’ College Chorus, Women’s Chorus, and Collegiate Singers. Alexa is currently a member of the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus. In their spare time, Alexa enjoys hiking, singing jazz, creating in the kitchen,walking, and yoga. Alexa is thrilled to be a member of the St. Gerard music team and spreading joy through song.
Cecelia Costigan
is the former Director of Music Ministry at St. Gerard parish. She retired in June of 2016. Cecelia currently serves as an organist at Sunday 7:30 am Mass a couple of times a month. She still enjoys full participation in the music ministry by singing in the adult choir, and playing in the handbell choir. Costigan earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Michigan State University. Her past posts include: Director of Music, St. Robert parish, Flushing.Mi; Elementary Music Specialist, Lansing Public Schools; elementary music teacher and organist, Resurrection parish, Lansing. She and her husband, Patrick are blessed with five adult married children and eight grandchildren.
Jon Jackinchuk is organist at various Saturday and Sunday masses. He is the former music director
of St. David’s Episcopal in Lansing and former organist of Our Redeemer Lutheran in Muskegon. Jon has been a substitute organist at several churches in the Lansing area over the years and also plays organ and piano for weddings and special events. He teaches piano to students of all ages.Jon holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts from The University of Michigan where he studied organ performance with Dr. James Kibbie. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in accounting and finance from Davenport University and is Director of Portfolio Management with Rouse Properties. Jon, his wife Sarah and four children are parishioners at St. Gerard and the children attend St. Gerard School.
Michael Taylor serves as a pianist at various liturgies at St. Gerard. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University and has studied piano for many years. Michael has many years of music ministry as a cantor and as a pianist. He and his wife, Karen, also direct the children's choir at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Downtown Lansing.
