about us
our director
JANTZ BLACK
Jantz Black enthusiastically joined the Northville Chorale as Director in January 2023. He holds a degree in Piano Performance from Southern Nazarene University and has over 20 years of experience as a professional musician in a variety of roles and settings. Currently he serves full-time as the Director of Music at Orchard United Methodist Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan, where he oversees and leads both traditional and contemporary ensembles—everything from choir, to handbells, to praise band, and more. He is also heavily involved with PRISM Men’s Chorus, an 85+ voice TTBB chorus in metro Detroit, singing in the group and serving as Secretary on their Board of Directors.
Prior to moving to moving to Farmington Hills in 2019, Jantz spent 11 years in Midland, Michigan, where he was the Director of Music and Organist at Midland First United Methodist Church. During his time in Midland, Jantz was involved with many local music ensembles including the Men of Music, the Midland Chorale, the High School Women’s Chorus, and several musical theater productions at Midland Center for the Arts. (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Urinetown, Disenchanted, Mary Poppins, The Full Monty, Title of Show, and Assassins, to name a few.)
In addition to playing piano, organ, handbells, singing, and conducting, Jantz is also a published composer and arranger of multiple choral and handbell works, and looks forward to creating original compositions and arrangements for the Northville Chorale in the near future.
our accompanist
Minjun Byun
Pianist Minjung Byun is a passionate and versatile artist. She studied music composition and music theory with Professor Mikyung Park at Keimyung University, South Korea.
Minjung moved to Michigan to further pursue her education and passions for music, studying with Professor Garik Pederson and receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Piano Performance with honors from Eastern Michigan University. During her studies, she worked as a Graduate Assistant and received numerous scholarships and awards.
Minjung actively performs with various soloists and ensembles and enjoys both classical and contemporary music. She has played harpsichord, organ, synthesizer keyboard and piano with university orchestras, symphonic bands, opera singers, high school bands, and church choirs.
Minjung is also a dedicated piano teacher with more than a decade of teaching experience. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and National Federation of Music Club. She is currently working as a pianist for the Orchard United Methodist Church and Livingston County Women’s Chorus. She is looking forward to sharing and growing her musicianship with the Northville Chorale.
our inspiration
MARY KAY PRYCE
Northville Chorale is not an NHS Alumni chorus, but several of our founding members are former students of long-time Northville High School music director Mary Kay Pryce. This choir exists in no small part because of her profound influence on a generation of students. Thanks to her, we share a lifelong love of music, singing, and an enduring love for our community, and this choir is proof of that.
If you are an alum of the Northville High School music program, we invite you to join the Chorale and continue into your adult life the legacy of an amazing music program. If you are a local community member who just loves to sing, or you think you might like singing if you tried it, we invite you to join the Chorale to honor - or discover - your own love of music.
Northville Chorale is excited to become a part of Northville's rich artistic community, and we can't wait for you to join us.
