Serafina

Our History

In 2018, the singers of Serafina were initially commissioned to program and perform a concert at Christ Church Cranbrook featuring early modern women composers. After a successful performance, they formally established a permanent ensemble with the mission to continue presenting this under-performed repertoire to audiences in Southeast Michigan and around the country. The group lifts up music written by, for, and about women through performance, education and advocacy. With an intentional blend of historical performance research and creative interpretation, Serafina strives to create a welcoming environment for both experienced concertgoers and newcomers to the early music scene.

Serafina has been featured on the Society for Historically Informed Performance’s summer concert series in Boston, the Fairlane Music Guild concert series in Dearborn, and the Artist Series of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Chattanooga. The ensemble has performed in collaboration with the Detroit chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the Christ Church Cranbrook Choir, the University of Michigan Organ Conference, and The West Concert series.

Members

Katie Sucha

Katie Sucha is a doctoral candidate in Historical Musicology at Case Western Reserve University and the program manager of the University of Michigan Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments. Her research explores issues of voice and embodiment in early modern convent music. Katie has performed nationally and internationally as both an ensemble singer and a soloist. She sings with Vox Lusciniae and Red Shift, and has sung with Quire Cleveland, Cleveland Chamber Choir, and Choral Artists of Michigan. She is a staff singer at Christ Church Grosse Pointe and sings regularly at Christ Church Cranbrook. Katie has presented her work in historical music at the Early Music America summit, the American Musicological Society annual meeting, and the Major Orchestra Librarians Association conference. When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book, Katie can be found throwing lopsided pottery and knitting structurally questionable garments.

Kate Lucander

Kate Lucander is a soprano based in Naples, Florida. Specializing in baroque and new works, Kate is passionate about bringing lesser known composers to the forefront of recognition. She

has recently appeared as an artist and soloist with Seraphic Fire, the Naples Philharmonic, Bach Vocal Artists, Audivi, the choir of Christ Church Grosse Pointe, Choral Artists of Michigan, and Choral Artistry of Southwest Florida.

Prior to her move, Kate worked actively in Detroit as a professional choral singer and oratorio soloist. Since moving to Naples, she has worked with the Nautilus Chamber Ensemble to enhance the local visibility of 21st century composers, in particular those with Latin American roots. Recent solo engagements include Bach’s St John Passion, Carissimi’s Jephte, and Handel’s Messiah. Upcoming engagements in the 2025-2026 season include Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass as well as appearances with Bach Vocal Artists and other professional ensembles. An avid traveller, Kate has sung across Europe with professional choirs, ranging from a residency at Westminster Abbey to the International Music Festival in Granada, Spain.

When not singing, Kate works full time as a software consultant for Revive ERP, and can otherwise be found cooking, hiking, or spending time with her husband and rescue dog, Nickel.

Amy Mizikow

Mezzo-soprano Amy Mizikow is an active performer in the Detroit area and serves as the Park Operations Supervisor at Indian Springs Metropark for the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. She served thirteen seasons as a staff singer at Christ Church Cranbrook and currently serves as a staff singer at Christ Church Grosse Pointe. Amy has performed with Audivi and Opera MODO in conjunction with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and her solo work includes Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Pie Jesu from the Duruflé Requiem, and Mozart’s C Major Mass. In addition to directing her own ensembles, Amy has many years of experience as a choral instructor with the Ann Arbor Public School choirs at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Amy received her Bachelor of Arts in K-12 Music Education and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Oakland University. When Amy is not busy enjoying the outdoors, she can be found spending time with her husband Aaron and their adorable more-bear-than-dog Kuma.

Stephanie Weil

Stephanie Weil is a mezzo-soprano in the Detroit music community. She has been honored to sing with numerous ensembles in the area. Deeply rooted in sacred music, Stephanie has nurtured her passion for serving church communities through her work with the choirs of St. Joseph, Christ Church Cranbrook, and Christ Church Grosse Pointe. She has been a devoted cantor in her parish for more than a decade and has participated in numerous project choirs, including several Audivi collaborations with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Although her main interest is classical sacred music she is a versatile singer, crossing genres and singing jazz, musical theatre and praise and worship. Stephanie also enjoys arranging music with her husband for Serafina to sing. Stephanie’s life has taken many turns as the years have gone by, but the music made with Serafina remains a cherished staple in her life. Outside of her musical commitments, Stephanie keeps herself busy with the education of her children, orchestrating parties for family and friends, and enjoying life with her young family.