Ann Kreucher, Office Manager
Ann takes amazing care of the office of St. Andrew’s parish and is an experienced office manager at a local physician’s office also. After moving to Lake Worth Beach in 2014, she began attending services and joined the choir. Ann was confirmed into the Episcopal Church in 2016 and now volunteers as a lay reader, Chalice bearer and Taizé musician, in addition to singing in the choir. A former mental health therapist and yoga studio owner, she also dances with Demetrius Klein Dance Company-DIY and teaches yoga twice a week.
Tracy Simkowitz, Office Assistant
A proud New Jersey native, Tracy and her husband Mark have lived in Lake Worth since 1977. They have two sons and four grandchildren (also boys). Tracy’s background includes serving as a library assistant in both Boynton Beach and Palm Springs and as a medical secretary for 20 years with Palm Beach Neurology. She is very involved in her synagogue serving on several committees and the executive board. Tracy is currently both the Executive Director and a dancer with Demetrius Klein Dance Company. Tracy is thrilled to be part of the St. Andrew’s family!
Nelson Segura, Sexton
Nelson is thrilled to join the St. Andrew’s family as its Sexton. He is essentially the caretaker of the church, responsible for its upkeep and ensuring that anything having to do with the physical structure is in top shape. A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Nelson currently resides in Lake Worth. He also works part time for the Palm County School Board System.
James Balmer, Choir Director
Choir Director James Balmer is a native of Pennsylvania, having relocated to Florida recently with his wife, Mary Nelson. Jim teaches upper school choir and lower school music at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. James and Mary have taught as a team in the northeast at the Avon Old Farms School, the Choate School, and Fairfield Country Day School. Their choirs have performed concerts and masses in numerous venues, including the Vatican in Rome and cathedrals throughout Europe. They have performed in Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Together they have presented concerts of major works with orchestra. Jim holds a Bachelor’s in Music from the College Misericordia, in Dallas, Pa., a Master’s in Music Education with an emphasis in choral conducting from the Hartt School of Music. Jim also completed choral conducting studies at the Laudinella Institute in St. Moritz, Switzerland. He is a doctoral candidate in choral conducting and choral literature from the University of Illinois and has done graduate studies at Westminster Choir College and the Julliard School.
Mary Nelson, Organist
A native of Minnesota, organist and pianist Mary Nelson relocated to Florida from Connecticut a few years ago. Mary teaches music in the lower school of Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton and is choral pianist for the middle and upper school. Mary has held church positions in the Midwest, New England and New York City. She has performed at Carnegie Hall as pianist and organist with various symphonies through MidAmerica Concert Productions. She has a Bachelor’s in Music Education with a keyboard emphasis from the University of Wisconsin, a Master’s in Music Education with a choral emphasis from the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. She completed choral conducting studies at the Laudinella Institute in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Mary has done graduate studies at the Westminster Choir College and post graduate studies at the Julliard School.