Worship music provided by the EPC band:
Music Director & Vocalist: Susan Smentek
Vocalist: Gayle Bisesi
Piano: Phil Videckis & Charlotte Jackson
Guitar & Sound Engineering: Keith Baumann
Drums & Percussion: Brian Collins
Meet our band members:
Phil Videckis, Pianist
EPC Worship Band pianist, Phil Videckis, was classically trained at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He spent 12 years as organist at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chicago & 17 years as choral accompanist for Fenwick High School. In recent years, Mr. Videckis has become involved in musical theater, music directing and/or accompanying shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, and, most recently, JC Superstar. Mr. Videckis is the owner of Phil's Electric Company and currently resides in Elmhurst with his wife, Eva.
Charlotte Jackson, Pianist
Charlotte Jackson, EPC Worship Band pianist, majored in Music Ed at U of I, and Marketing at ISU. An accomplished cellist, vocalist and performer, she is also a Project Coordinator for the American College of Surgeons.
Susan Smentek, Music Director & Vocalist
Susan Smentek, Director of Music. Susan is a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. She grew up singing and playing guitar in churches in her hometown of Chicago. As a professional mezzo-soprano, Susan has performed with ensembles including Richard Proulx's Cathedral Singers, The Lakeside Singers and the Lira Ensemble. A former instructor and concert producer at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Susan was an Illinois ArtsTour Artist who appeared in concert on stages and at festivals throughout the USA. A member of EPC since 2006, Susan became the Director of Music in 2008. Along with her extensive knowledge of church music in a multitude of styles, grounded in Scripture, Susan brings her enthusiastic, encouraging presence, to every Worship service. She loves to hear the congregation singing when the Spirit moves them!
Gayle Bisesi, Vocalist
Gayle Bisesi, EPC Vocalist, has been teaching and singing professionally for over 25 years. She is a Vocalist, Voice Over Artist, Composer and Educator. She resides in the Chicago area while pursuing her musical career. At Elmhurst University, she is the Director of “Late Night Blues” vocal jazz ensemble, teaches private jazz voice lessons, and is the Director of Music Admission and Recruitment. Her singing and teaching have taken her to such places as the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and New York City. She is the recipient of the prestigious Downbeat Award for Best Jazz Vocalist. When not on the road singing with her jazz ensemble, Gayle is actively composing new music, doing jingle/voice-over work, and singing with various local Chicago bands, including her bands Jazz Couture and Bisesi.
Keith Baumann, Guitar & Sound Engineer
Keith Baumann has been a professional musician and teacher for nearly 50 years. Picking up the guitar as a teenager, his passion soon led him to the guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and steel guitar. Although his life-long obsession began with Bluegrass, Keith has expanded his musical vocabulary to include Jazz, Dixieland, Country, Western Swing and even Hawaiian music. Calling Chicago his home, he is both an in-demand sideman and respected bandleader. No stranger to the stage, Keith has enjoyed a lengthy career bringing his talents to venues and festivals throughout the United States. As a former member of the Grammy Nominated Special Consensus, he has toured the country as a bluegrass artist. Keith is also a highly-regarded music educator, teaching at several national music camps throughout the United States. In addition to playing guitar with the EPC Worship Band, Keith continues to freelance with numerous groups as well as lead several of his own groups.