Staff
Kendall Kookogey
Parish Administrator
office@Stgregoryathens.org
706-546-7553 Ext. 1
Office Hours: Mondays: 12-5
Tuesdays: 10-5:30
Wednesdays :12-5
Thursdays: 10-5
Fridays: 10-4
Jonathan Klein
Music Director & Organist
jonathanfk@gmail.com
Jonathan Klein currently serves as the pianist, organist, and music director at St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church in Athens, GA. In addition to his work in the church, he also owns and operates a private piano studio of over 50 students. He received his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from the University of Georgia where he was the recipient of the UGA Athon-Hughes-Cook Piano Pedagogy award. In 2009 he was the sole recipient of the Steinway Piano Galleries Educator Grant in the state of Georgia. A dedicated and sought-after teacher, his students regularly earn top honors at local and state level competitions and festivals. Jonathan is a member of the American Guild of Organists, Music Teachers National Association, Music Educators National Association, and has held several executive board positions including GMTA Vice President of Publicity, GMTA Financial Advisory Committee, GMTA State Auditions Chair, and Athens MTA President and Program Chair. In his spare time he enjoys sleeping, traveling, and running the occasional half-marathon.
Catherine Holton, Director of Children’s Ministries
Catherine directs the children’s Sunday School and Chapel programs at St Gregory the Great. Catherine received her Masters of Theology and Biblical Studies, and a Masters of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary Pasadena, California, and she has been involved in church ministry for twenty years in various streams of Christianity. Catherine worked internationally as a school teacher, and stateside teaching English to international students. She is currently involved in the Clarke County School System as a parent volunteer and community organizer. Catherine attends St Gregory with her husband and two children.
Jeff Ballance, Youth Minister
After finding the Episcopal Church through Campus Ministry at UGA, Jeff started attending St. Greg’sand accepted the role of Youth Minister in 2026. His background runs through a decade of teaching leadership classes at marching band camps for high school students, education in Social Work and work in community mental health, and now managing a team of artisans at a local custom frame shop.
His philosophy for our vibrant and cherished youth program and young adult group is undergirded by the conviction that each of us in our uniqueness are made by and deeply beloved by God just for being who we are, and that God can handle our grief, questions, and doubts.
Jeff stays busy with singing in St. Greg's choir and other choral groups, several nerdy hobbies, and volunteering with local justice oriented organizations. He and his wife Lillian live in Winterville with hundreds of native plants and three adored cats, Humphrey, Thomas, and Charles.
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