Church Staff and Leadership
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The Melrose Highlands Congregational Church is run by both staff and the Executive Council. Most of the work of the church is done by volunteers like you!
Staff—The staff members of our church are those who hold paid positions. This includes our Pastor, Music Director, Christian Education Coordinator, Building Use and Finance Coordinator, and others. Executive Council—The Executive Council, which meets periodically to attend to the business and well-being of the church, is led primarily by volunteers and is comprised of the Officers, Deacons, and Stewards of the church who are elected to their positions during church meetings. These leaders organize the teams that make up the life of our church. The Deacons head teams that are related to faith, worship, and service, while the Stewards manage teams that are related to the day-to-day business of the church. Please contact these church leaders if you have questions about what they do or would like to help with their teams. All help—great or small—is welcome! Volunteering for the church can be fun and it offers a great way to get to know fellow church members. Officers Moderator: Rob Ayles Vice Moderator: John Swanson Pastor: Katie Omberg Treasurer: Anne Moore Clerk: Carol Rosseland Deacons Worship: John Swanson Christian Education: Valerie Bowden Service & Outreach Team Coordinator: Faith Sherlock Membership & Growth: Joanne Hartung Youth Ministries: Stewards Leadership Development: Joanne Hartung Finances: Devon Winey Building & Grounds: Jeff Parks Communications: Teri Vienot Staff Pastor: Katie Omberg Director of Music: Katherine Foley Organist: Eugene Kaminsky Christian Education Coordinator: Julie Fauvel Senior High Youth Director: Kent Vienot Middle School Youth Director: Open Office Administrator: Andrea Harrington Financial Administrator/Building Supervisor: Mark Wantman Sexton: John Angel Childcare: Katherine Willett, Hannah McSheehy Pastor, Katie Omberg
Katie Omberg holds a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology and did her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College. Before their current call at Melrose Highlands, she has served in ministry roles in small towns and urban centers around the greater Boston area. Katie is currently working towards a certification in Intentional Interim Ministry, which will be obtained in the summer of 2022. They also work with the Mission Institute, an Episcopal organization that trains anti-racism facilitators to lead transformative conversations in communities of faith. She volunteers with Black and Pink Massachusetts, a prison abolition organization and open family of LGBTQ/HIV+ prisoners and free world members. When not working, they enjoy hiking in the White Mountains, baking, spending time with friends, and reading comics.
. Music Director, Katherine Foley
Katherine Foley, a graduate of Westminster Choir College, loves to make music as a singer, as a conductor, and as a teacher. This year marks Katherine's 16th season with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She also sings regularly with the Orpheus Singers. Katherine has appeared with the Westminster Symphonic Choir and with the Westminster Singers, singing with the New York Philharmonic, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a soloist with the Neponset Choral Society and the Masterworks Chorale,and was the soprano soloist at Melrose Highlands Congregational church for four years. Katherine has served as the assistant conductor for the Newton Community Chorus and the Boston Choral Ensemble. She also enjoyed several years as the Music Director at Christ Church United Methodist in Wellesley. She continues to give private voice lessons to adults and to high school students at her home in North Reading. Katherine studies with Brett Johnson.
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Organist, Eugene Kaminsky
Eugene Kaminsky is an active pianist, organist and pedagogue, piano instructor at the New England Conservatory of Music Preparatory school and South Shore Conservatory. Eugene is graduate of College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati where he was a student and later the assistant of Professor James Tocco.
An active performer, Eugene is a prizewinner of several international piano competitions such as "Josef Hofmann" International Piano Competition (USA) and "Carlo Soliva" International Piano Duo Competition (Italy), in ensemble with his wife Eva. He is an active solo and chamber music performer, frequently sharing the stage with instrumentalists and singers.
Eugene lives in Wakefield, MA with his wife and two children.
An active performer, Eugene is a prizewinner of several international piano competitions such as "Josef Hofmann" International Piano Competition (USA) and "Carlo Soliva" International Piano Duo Competition (Italy), in ensemble with his wife Eva. He is an active solo and chamber music performer, frequently sharing the stage with instrumentalists and singers.
Eugene lives in Wakefield, MA with his wife and two children.
