Artist Profile: Dawn Marie Chmiel
This line from Psalm 104 is one of my favorites and I think it
sums up why I love to sing and especially why I love to sing to God. When I
first began my piano lessons at the age of five, I had no idea where I was
headed in the world of music, although when my first job at the age of 11 was as
a church organist, I should have had some clue! Throughout my grade school
years, I often sang with and accompanied the chorus. During high school, I sang
in several musicals and loved it! However, I never thought that my career would
have anything to do with music. In fact, I took quite a different path and
received a degree in Police Science in 1985. The following year, I received a
job offer as a police officer in New Hampshire - but somehow, at that time, it
felt as if it wasn’t the right path for me to follow. I turned down the job and
remained at home in Rochester, NY. A few years later, I was to meet my husband,
Gene and we were married in 1991. Within the next two years, our sons, Brian
and Andrew were born. My number one priority was to be a good wife and mother.
I have never regretted making that choice to stay in Rochester – I feel sure
that God was leading me in the right direction.
Singing in church had been a part of my life since I was young
and that did not change. Being involved in the choirs at St. Stanislaus and St.
Theresa churches in Rochester was how I met my husband, who was a parishioner at
St. Stanislaus. I think it was a great case of divine intervention!!! After
becoming a wife and mother, my relationship with God seemed to be revived - I
began to see life in a whole new way and I think that began to show through in
my music. I had always been able to sing and to play piano and organ and I had
been using those talents at several area churches in the diocese for many
years. But as my belief and faith in God changed – I could begin to notice the
difference in my own voice. The words of the hymns were not just words, but
they were a sincere prayer to my Father in heaven – they became a prayer of
comfort for families at funerals, they became prayers of rejoicing at weddings
and prayers of true belief in the Holy Eucharist at every Mass. When people
tell me that they love my voice, I thank them but I have to add – it’s not my
voice – it is God working through me. He alone has given me this gift as He has
given to each of us a gift. My desire is to always use the voice He has given
me to praise Him and hopefully, to bring His people closer to Him.
From 1986 until 2001, I was a member of St. Stanislaus Church
and was cantor, soloist and secondary organist there throughout those years as
well as Music Coordinator from 1998 until 2001. For the past ten years, I have
also sung at St. Ann’s Chapel, at the St. Ann’s Community, in Rochester, NY for
funerals and special liturgies and in 2000, I became the Music Director there.
I enjoy so much my work there with the choir and with the residents and
staff. In the past ten years, I have also served at Our Lady of Victory,
Church of the Annunciation, St. Charles Borromeo, St. Rita and Assumption Of Our
Lady. I have made so many wonderful friends at these parishes and so many
others that I have worked with over the years. Thanks to all of you!
Recording my first CD was a wonderful experience – and a lot
more work that I ever thought!!!! I want to thank first of all, my husband
Gene, and my sons, Brian and Andrew, who presented me with a Christmas gift in
2001 of recording time at Dynamic Recording Studio. That morning was one of the
few times I was ever speechless (although it didn’t last long)!!! Gene has
been a constant source of strength for me throughout all the time I’ve known him
and this past year, working on the CD For His Glory together, has been no
exception. I could not have done it without him. I also want to thank my
mother, Joanne Hawkes-Orman, who was my first example of what it was like to
sing to God in His church. She continues to sing to Him and I thank her for her
constant encouragement. My father, Douglas Hawkes, to whom I have dedicated the
song In the Garden, was one of the most loving and kind people I have ever
known. Although he died twenty-five years ago, his example of being a true
Christian still inspires me today. Finally, but most importantly, thank you,
God – let it all be for Your glory! I will sing praise to You as long as I
live!