Music Director

2008 Master of Music from Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)

Simon Zaleski has served as CVLC's Music Director since 2008, after moving to Durham following receipt of master's degrees in harpsichord, composition, and musicology from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. A specialist in Renaissance, Baroque, and Celtic music, he has performed on harpsichord, organ, piano, viola, viola da gamba, and recorder and brings some of this music to CVLC. Over the past few years, he has performed with many early music ensembles in Baltimore and at Duke and UNC. A rather geeky list of hobbies, perhaps influenced by growing up in the Seattle area, includes history, fishkeeping, Star Trek and other sci-fi, and games of all sorts--and there is always another musical instrument to learn! 

Office Administrator

Jeanne Purtell was overwhelmed by the warm welcome she received when she joined the staff at Christus Victor Lutheran Church. Now she enjoys extending this same welcome to everyone who visits the office, whether it be member or guest.

Jeanne joined the staff at CVLC upon moving from Pennsylvania to the Durham area with her husband in January 2025 so they could be near her daughter, son-in-law, and new grandchild. She is already appreciating the milder winters, the wealth of things to do in the Triangle area, and the welcoming and giving spirit of the CVLC community. Jeanne spent the entirety of her professional career in education, retiring in 2022 after teaching English for 30+ years at the high school and college level.  When not working, Jeanne enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing golf, pickleball, disc golf, and board or card games, gardening, exercising, and keeping those brain synapses firing by playing the New York Times games, doing crossword puzzles and reading.