South Congregational Church
Meet Our Staff
We, the South Church staff, are blessed with the privilege of nurturing, guiding and supporting this very special congregation. We foster an environment that is professional, fun, loving and creative. We collaborate in much of what we do, and we work closely with the leadership at South Church.
SUE BERLENBACH
Music Director
Sue earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in music education and an applied major in voice from Crane School of Music in 1982 and a Master of Education degree with a major in educational administration from Keene State College in 1988. She is an active member of both NAfME: The National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association.
The 2016-2017 school year begins Sue’s thirty-fourth year at Kearsarge Regional Middle School in N. Sutton, NH, where she directs three choirs and teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth grade general music. In addition to her school responsibilities, Sue sings with the Concord Chorale, an auditioned community choir based in Concord, NH and maintains a private studio in her home.
Sue was born and raised on New York's Long Island. She lives in Bow, NH with her two children. Hiking, reading, gardening, and listening to music are her favorite pastimes.
E-mail: SouthChurchMusic603@gmail.com
ABIGAIL CHARBENEAU
Organist/Accompanist
Abby grew up in Woodstock, Vermont, and attended the Bridgewater Congregational Church, UCC. In high school, Abby was asked to accompany the chorus and the musicals, and a lifelong love of musical collaboration was born. Abby attended Skidmore College where her teacher, Dr. Pola Baytelman, nurtured her musicianship greatly. Abby earned her Masters in Music in Piano Performance and piano Pedagogy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has taught in Illinois, Vermont, and currently in NH at The Concord Community Music School and at St. Paul’s School. She has played for many denominations including United Church of Christ, United Methodist, Southern Baptist, Episcopal, and for many years she was the accompanist at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord. Abby is delighted to be at South Church where she has returned to her spiritual roots.
Abby loves planning and participating in worship. Her goal is to create a meaningful and moving experience for those attending church.
E-mail: acharbeneau@gmail.com
CARLENE RUESENBERG
Memorial Bell Choir Director
Carlene has been the director of the Memorial Bell choir since January of 2014. She studied music at Arizona State University and the New England Conservatory, majoring in bassoon performance. She started playing handbells in 2004 when she joined the Memorial Bells at South Church, and in 2007, became a founding member of the Granite State Ringers. Before directing the Memorial Bells, she was the director of the Senior and Junior Handbell Choirs at the Lee Church Congregational. She is a member of the Handbell Musicians of America, and currently serves on the Board of Area 1 as Education Liaison. Besides ringing, she enjoys singing, and has been a member of the Manchester Choral Society, the Concord Chorale, and the Choral Art Society of Portland, Maine.
E-mail: cdruesenberg@gmail.com
WALT IRVINE
Sexton
Walt joined the staff as our permanent sexton in August 2015. Walt has deep ties with South Church, his family has been long time members who are active in the life of the church. Walt brings a deep appreciation for the community of South Church and this shows in his attention to detail from cleaning to making sure people have what they need. When not hard at work cleaning the building and grounds Walt enjoys movies and physical fitness