St. James the Less Catholic Parish

Eileen Ladewski

Music Director
Phone: 262-363-7615 X112
Email: Click Here to Email

Ms. Ladewski’s journey to St. James the Less began Easter morning after Mass with a name placard on a door. The card simply said "St. James", but the timing seemed an answer to a prayer. Ms. Ladewski had been asking and discerning where God wanted to lead her this year, and to her, His answer was abundantly clear.
“I am excited to join the St. James community in starting up a school this year,” she says. “Not only do I value classical education, but I also know that I am getting the best of both worlds--for me, working at a Catholic school is like living a little slice of home.” And very clearly, the Lord is leading her here. Ms. Ladewski joins the St. James community after working eight years in Naples, Florida as a music teacher at Mason Classical Academy, a top-ranking classical charter school. There she received high acclaim including recognized as Teacher of the Year and was much beloved by her students! Before that, she received her B.A. in music with a concentration in piano from Ave Maria University.
Ms. Ladewski was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana in a family of musicians. “Growing up,” she says, “I would play hours of card games with my siblings. We had the perfect musical soundtrack rotation while we played: Irish folk music, Broadway musicals, and Mozart’s Requiem.” As eclectic as these selections sound, she admits that her family's love of a wide array of wholesome music shaped her career as a music teacher. “I went to college to study music because I knew that I loved Classical music, but later when I began teaching, I realized just how excited I was about good music when I found an old folk song book at a thrift store. Even these simple tunes warmed my heart like meeting with an old friend." She loves the stories of humanity that are hidden in folk music, be they serious or silly. As you might recall, Mr. Paloucek also has a love for Irish Folk music so some event involving that beautiful music tradition is in the future at SJL Academy!
Ms. Ladewski strives to impart her passion for music to her elementary students, always seeking to kindle in them an experience of beauty, joy, and community. “There is nothing like looking out and seeing a row of little faces smiling as they whole-heartly sing a favorite song, such as ‘O Susanna.’” Ms. Ladewski relates. “Cultivating the enthusiasm for music in the children is not only a delight to see, but also a joy to do. Music is so special because it touches us deeply in our emotions, as it is ultimately an expression of the soul. I see my job as a music director to draw that out.” Ms. Ladewski is excited to meet the families, and especially the children, at St. James the Less Academy. She looks forward to bringing the love of music from her home into yours!