Cathy Pescarino

    Cathy is one of the lead vocalists and songwriters of PRAZ.  A native of St. Louis, she currently lives in O’Fallon, MO, with her husband Rick and three sons: Luke, Joey, and Vinny. She is a stay-at-home Mom and part-time youth minister at Assumption Church in O’Fallon. She is also the music director for 5pm Saturday Night Mass (which includes all of the members of PRAZ!).  Cathy has a degree in Vocal Music Education and has spent many years working in professional theatre.  She is now focused on faith, family and her passion for music.  She feels called, through PRAZ, to touch the hearts of others through prayer and song.

    “Being a member of PRAZ has been an amazing journey. Father, I pray everyday that your love will show the way to a better place. May you hear my voice and help me realize Lord, I must lead. . You are merciful to me. Let me be your hands and imitate you to everyone I meet. You are my only and I turn to you because it’s not for living that we choose to plod on through, it’s for heaven and the visions of you. GOD IS GREAT!”

Michelle Staebell

           Michelle is also a lead vocalist and songwriter for PRAZ.  She is married to Aaron and has three children: Emma, Caroline, and Henry. She resides in O'Fallon, MO, where she is a stay-at-home Mom and is currently one of the Assumption Youth Ministers.  Michelle has been singing since she was young, and she has taken several years of vocal training.  In the St. Louis area, she has sung with numerous choirs, show groups and musicals.  She also sung as a cantor at Assumption Church for a few years.  She never really found the perfect fit until she helped start up the 5 pm Mass band, which evolved into PRAZ.  Through PRAZ, she hopes to use her gifts and talents to spread God’s message.

Kevin Hinkebein

        Kevin is the guitarist and also a songwriter for the music group PRAZ.  He resides in O’Fallon, MO, with his wife Carol and their three children - Nicholas, Emily, and Catherine.  He has been playing the guitar since he was young, but he never played in an organized group until PRAZ came along. Kevin’s song, “Father I”, was the first original song that sparked PRAZ to write their own music and make their first CD.  His favorite bands – Pink Floyd and Rush, have influenced him in music.  Kevin has really found his niche in the band, and believes that God has brought PRAZ together for a reason

Mike Gagliano

    Mike has been around music his entire life. His first time on tour, he was 6 weeks old. He went out on the road with St Louis' own, Mama's Pride. Grant it, he was a little too young to play anything, so his father played for him. His father being a keyboard player, Mike decided to learn piano at a young age. Eventually, Mike moved on, and he began playing the drums in high school. His influences were and still are, Chicago, 70's rock & music of the 80's (from big hair rock bands to power ballads). When his college years arrived, Mike played drums for the Newman Center band at the University of Missouri-Rolla. It was there where he began to evolve into playing Christian Music. It was also at Rolla where Mike decided to learn to play guitar. This made him diverse, and he found himself playing for many youth retreats, including Teens Encounter Christ in St Louis. Mike has played with numerous church groups, secular bands, and has jammed with many musicians before the blessing of PraZ, which started out as the 5pm mass band for Assumption in O'Fallon, MO, which he began playing with August of 2001.

    Today, Mike lives in Wentzville, MO with his wife Jen, his son, Ben, and his daughter, Kara. His life is based around music. As well as being a member of PraZ, he is the store owner of A & M Music in St Charles, MO, leads Praise & Worship for the youth group at Assumption, and keeps active in Teens Encounter Christ retreats.

   
Mark Sacco

    Mark is a native from North St. Louis County. Mark has been involved in music his entire life. Mark’s dad, Jules, was a professional musician for many years in the St. Louis area with Sacco/Walters duo and later, The International Affair. Mark’s mom, Mary Jo, also has been involved with music playing the piano and working with children with special needs with Special School District. Mark started playing in bands at age 14. After Mark graduated from University of Missouri – Columbia with a degree in Education/Vocal Music, he and his brothers, Steve and Scott, and wife Connie formed “The Sacco Brothers Band”. They played just about every weekend for 15 years for wedding receptions, and private parties. Mark is now teaching General Music at Assumption Catholic School in O’Fallon, MO and plays with PraZ every Saturday at 5:00 P.M. Mass at Assumption BVM. Mark and Connie have a son, Nicholas, 16 and daughter, Ashley, 13. Both Nicholas and Ashley are also musical. Nicholas plays the bass and Ashley plays the violin for their school’s Orchestra. Mark also is the choir director at the 10:30 A.M. mass at All Saints Parish in St. Peters and Connie and Ashley sing with the choir as well.

The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful gift and my prayer through music will show me the path of my life.