First Presbyterian Staff

The Rev. Matthew Miller, who began as Senior Pastor in October of 2013, studied Musical Theater in the prestigious Carnegie Mellon Drama program, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from the University of Colorado, Boulder and worked for a time in the field of corporate facilities management before being called to pastoral ministry in the church.  After receiving his Master of Divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, TX, Matthew was called to serve as Pastor to the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski, TN, followed by the First Presbyterian Church of Sioux City, IA. Matthew has been active in service to the larger church as a member of the Committee on Ministry in both Tennessee and Iowa, as a featured preacher and keynote speaker for the Presbytery of Detroit and Mo Ranch College Connection, and as a Teaching Elder Commissioner to the 220th General Assembly last year in Pittsburgh.  Among other places, his continuing education has taken him on pilgrimage to Israel and to Christ Church College in Oxford for further theological study.  Closer to home, he has a passion for connecting people to a deeper experience of what it means to follow Jesus through mission; leading groups to Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, coordinating a multi-church Living Waters team to bring clean water to Haiti, leading short-term High School mission, and reaching out to local community through Vacation Bible School.  Outside the church, Matthew has been known to take the stage from time to time to relive his youth in the theater.  He is a sometime triathlete who swims, bikes and runs so he can enjoy his love of good food and craft beer. He is eager to hear a good story well-told whether in song, fiction, film, or simply in friendly conversation.  In addition to their daughters Miranda and Grace, Matthew and his wife Marie welcomed their son Yared into the family in the fall of 2012 from Ethiopia.  They feel blessed to be back home in the West and to call Albuquerque home.

Rev. Essie Koenig-Reinke, grew up in Kansas and Oklahoma, and has a deep love for red clay dirt and flint hills sunsets.  She has spent the last decade learning what life is like outside of America’s heartland. She has served as a PCUSA Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in Belfast Northern Ireland and attended Seminary at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. Since seminary she has explored the Great Lakes in Michigan, and most recently she has been soaking up bay views in Maryland. 

Essie is a cradle Presbyterian with a passion for youth ministry and Christian formation. From worship to mission projects, potluck dinners and youth lock-ins, Essie loves bringing folks together to learn, grow, and serve in community. 

Essie is married to Rev. Eric Koenig-Reinke, who is also a PCUSA Pastor. Their 18 month old daughter Lucy, loves Elmo, dinosaurs and all things Ms. Rachel. Together along with their dog Bentley they love listening to music, exploring outside, and visiting the library. 

Essie is looking forward to meeting everyone at First Presbyterian Church, and learning more about how this beautiful community of faith is sharing, “Good News that makes a difference in the world.”

Mary joined the ACG Team as Director in January 2015.  She was born and raised in Albuquerque and has attended First Presbyterian Church for most of her life.  She received her B.A. and teaching certification from the University of San Diego in 1991 and completed her Graduate work at the University of San Diego, Texas Christian University, and the University of New Mexico.  She has been in the field of education for over 25 years.  She is dually certified in General and Special Education.  Mary enjoys running, reading, traveling (especially to the beach) and playing with her family which includes her husband, four fabulous children (three of whom attended A Child’s Garden) and her dog, Tara.

Carolyn Rhodes was born and raised in Albuquerque and attended the University of New Mexico earning a Bachelor degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Art History.  Carolyn has been on staff since 1994: first at A Child's Garden Preschool from 1994 - 1999 and then as the Executive Assistant from April 1999 to August 2015 and currently as the Church Adminsitrator. Carolyn is an Ordained Elder and a life time member of First Presbyterian Church.  She is married and lives in Los Lunas, NM and has two grown children.  Carolyn enjoys drawing, needlepointing, knitting, and spending time in God’s beautiful outdoors.

Sharon Baca is lifelong resident of Albuquerque, growing up and living in the north valley her entire life.  Sharon has been married to her husband Dennis for 36 years, they have four daughters, 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. Sharon loves cooking, gardening and crafting especially with her grandkids! 

Leon Lake is an international recitalist, vocal coach, and conductor from West Texas. Mr. Lake first attended South Plains College where he studied voice with Ruby Moultrie, and piano with Wilma Ryan and Dr. Hye-Gyung Ji. Mr. Lake continued his studies at Southern Methodist University where he studied voice with Barbara Hill-Moore.

Mr. Lake is an accomplished pianist and vocalist who has won many national and international competitions including the Leontyne Price Young Artist Competition and NATS.

Mr. Lake has performed extensively in opera and musical theater. His musical theater roles include: Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Fats Waller in Ain’t Misbehavin’, Father in Children of Eden, Juan Peron in Evita and Léon in the world premiere of Two Orphans, a role written for him by Theresa Rebeck and Kim Sherman. Mr. Lakes opera roles include: Gluck’s Orfeo, Oberon from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Britten, Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Baba in The Rakes Progress, and Sesto in Giulio Cesare by Handel. Mr. Lake also works as a champion for the music of Black Composers. As an opera coach and vocal consultant for young professional singers Mr. Lake’s students have been in productions on Broadway and in opera houses across America and Europe.

Mr. Lake has served as the Director of Performing Arts at the historic Menaul School since 2016. As a music educator Mr. Lake has taught vocal music, acting, and arts history classes. As a director Mr. Lake has also directed over 30 stage performances.

Mr. Lake has worked in church and sacred music since 2005. In that time, he has worked as a church pianist, accompanist, soloist, arranger, conductor, and music director. Mr. Lake has worked with multiple choirs from almost every denomination and now serves as the music director for First Presbyterian Church of Albuquerque.

Mr. Lake currently lives in Tijeras with his husband Skyler.

Dr. Jessie Wenchieh Lo is a Taiwanese American performing artist, recording artist, music educator, and music director. She is a pianist, organist, clarinetist and singer, who has performed in Austria, Belarus, Brazil, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, San Marino, Taiwan, and in the United States. She is prize winner in many International Competitions including First Prize and Chopin Prize at The 3rd European Piano Competition Citta del Vasto in Italy; Beethoven Prize from Wiener Beethoven
Gesellschaft (Viennese Beethoven Association) at the Vienna
International Pianists Music Festival in Vienna, Austria; and in 2nd International Vienna Piano Competition in Nagoya, Japan; 6th Taipei International Chopin Piano Competition in Taipei, Taiwan; and more. Dr. Lo earned her Bachelor’s and Master of Arts degrees in Piano Performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria, where she also studied organ and started playing organ in services and concerts in different countries. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from Boston University, where she taught Piano Individual and Group Lessons; as well as Collaborative Piano. She hosted piano masterclasses in Vienna, Austria; and gave piano masterclasses and performances at Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Dr. Lo has held positions of Music Director, Organist and Pianist in Vienna Austria; Boston Massachusetts; Tallahassee Florida, San Francisco Bay Area California, and Santa Fe New Mexico. Dr. Lo performs regularly with many music organizations and individual artists locally, including New Mexico Philharmonic, Coro Lux, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and more; as well as in other parts of the U.S, and internationally. Dr. Lo is also Music Director for National Dance Institute New Mexico in Santa Fe, where she composes, arranges, conducts, and performs original music and dance production annually. She also serves as judge at piano competitions. Dr. Lo’s piano studio offers in person and online piano lessons with students of all ages and from around the world. Dr. Lo has been continuously serving as a musician in churches since 2000 as pianist, organist, singer, composer, arranger, choir/orchestra conductor, and music director. She serves as organist and pianist at First Presbyterian Church of Albuquerque. Her favorite things include traveling; listening to her husband, Dr. Jesse Acker-Johnson, plays beautiful guitar; and spending time with her family. For information and contact, visit https://www.jessiewenchiehlo.com.