The Board of Governors

Chris Utz - President

Chris joined the Seaway Chorale in 1997 and served as President in 2005, as well as an earlier stint as Production Coordinator. A first tenor, he sang in high school but stopped afterward to focus on degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics, only to rediscover the joy of singing as a (much older) adult in church choir. He has enjoyed bringing that passion to Seaway, and he was excited to return to the role of President again in 2019. Chris recently retired after 35 years at BASF in Wyandotte and is enjoying improvement in his golf game. He lives in Farmington Hills with his wife Jan and their two dogs, Molly and Pippa.

Ken Pilon - Vice President

Ken has been with Seaway Chorale since 2008 and has been on the Board since 2009. A bass, he has sung in several church choirs and on stage. His love of music began at a very young age and continues to this day. He also is an avid sports fan for all of the Detroit teams and the University of Michigan! He lives in Woodhaven with his lovely wife Karen, their two dogs Frisco and Harwell and their cat Sabrina. Their kids and their 13 grandchildren bring great joy to their lives.

Joyce Mitchell - Secretary

Joyce has been a Chorale member since 2023, singing in the Soprano section. Her grandparents sang and played trumpet professionally giving the family a great love of music. She sang in her high school glee club and for fun in college. After a long spell of not singing in a group, she sang in the Adult Choir with the Grosse Ile Boar’s Head in 2023. She loved it so much she joined the Chorale. Joyce worked for 46 years as the Manager of the Microbiology Laboratory for Beaumont Oakwood Hospital and is now retired. She and her husband Mark have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren and reside in Grosse Ile.

Rich Witkowski - Treasurer

“Retired School District Superintendent, originally from Chicago until I met my wife at MSU and never returned. Was in choir and orchestra throughout my elementary and high school years. Played sousaphone in the Chicago All City band in elementary and high school. Also, played Accordian from elementary through high school. Currently sing with the Community Chorus of Detroit, St Vincent Pallotti Choir and the Bridgewater Del Webb Chorus.”

Karen Best - Librarian

Karen grew up surrounded by musical influences that fostered her love of music. As the daughter of a classically-trained pianist turned church organist and a multi- instrumentalist father, she has studied organ, flute and picked up guitar and piano along the way. One of the highlights of her life was being chosen by her church conference to travel the U.S. and Canada in an ensemble of 8, singing second soprano and also soloing. She also enjoyed the 23 years that she had the privilege of leading her church choir.

She has been involved in church ministry as a soloist, organist, praise team and small group member, but one of her greatest joys has been watching her daughter and son develop into gifted singers in their own right and having the opportunity to sing with them!

A retired high school teacher, she has been a Seaway member since 2016. She and husband Mark have four grown children and reside in Brownstown.

Colleen Herman - Music Manager

Colleen Herman has performed with the Seaway Chorale for over 36
years, having started at the age of 8 in the Voices of the Young, moved on to Youth Sings and also played in the Orchestra while in college. She is now singing with the Chorale and is serving her 16th year on the Board of Governors. Previous positions have included Vice President and Publicity Manager. Colleen is also involved with assisting Mr. Lai with Voices of the Young, a group that is near and dear to her heart.
Colleen has Flute Performance degrees from Western Michigan University (BM) and Wayne State University (MM). She currently owns her own flute studio where she teaches one on one lessons to students of all ages, and she also adjudicates for MSBOA's Solo and Ensemble Festivals. Colleen resides in Brownstown with her husband, Jerry, and her two children, Emily and Christopher.

David Anderson - Marketing Manager

Dave joined Seaway Chorale in 2022, after moving to Brownstown Township from Windsor Ontario in 2015. He graduated from the University of Toronto’s School of Dentistry in 1972, and practiced dentistry in Windsor for 38 years, before transitioning to teaching at the University of Detroit Mercy dental school.

A baritone in the Seaway Chorale, he was always involved in music, from playing clarinet in his high school band, to singing in church choirs.

Now fully retired, he lives in the Bridgewater Dell Webb community with his wife Denise and Milo the labradoodle.

He enjoys singing in the Seaway Chorale, as well as a member of the Bridgewater Chorus.

Rosemary Freeman - Production

Rosemary joined Seaway Chorale, as a first soprano, in 2015. She joined the Production Committee and this year is co-chairing! She is also on the Music Selection Committee. She loves singing with Seaway Chorale. She sang in choirs from Kindergarten through 12th grades and became a vocal major at Eastern Michigan University. She has sung in weddings, funerals, church choirs, The Madrigal Chorale, the DSO for 20 years, and 13 years with The Plymouth Oratorio Society. Rosemary is a retired teacher who lives in Brownstown. She has three children and two grandchildren.