Kate Leavey
Creative Director
Kate began her career performing in theater at The Boston Center for the Arts and headlining at The Top of the Hub, Sculler's Jazz Club, The Waldorf Astoria, even scatting her way across the stage at a Carnegie Hall Youth Festival. Although an accomplished performer, her true life's work has always been in the ministry of music. With a Master's in Sacred Music from Boston University, Kate served as the Director of Liturgical Arts at Boston College, where she completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees. A lover of all the arts, Kate is an avid writer who freelances and is close to actualizing her dream of publishing her first novel. Kate has been honored at the State House as one of Massachusetts' "Unsung Heroes" and distinguished in her hometown as the "ROTA" inductee for athletic achievement. Kate is also a founding partner of Act 2: Share Our Stage, promoting wellness through the arts; she also lends her voice to "Act 2: You're On" - a podcast igniting personal and societal renaissance through inspirational conversations and purpose-driven topics. Kate lives in Natick with her husband, Steve (found singing to her in the Bass section), and rejoicing in the four children they adore. Sound & Spirit is a melding of her love for performance, self-expression, and providing opportunities for collaboration and joy through all the artistic modalities.
Cathi Ianno
Associate Director
A passionate arts advocate and mission-driven professional, Cathi currently serves as the Director of Advancement at Global Arts Live, a world music and dance organization serving the greater Boston community. An accomplished fundraiser, Cathi previously served as Director of Development at SpeakEasy Stage Company for five years and The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN) for five years. Cathi began her career as an arts administrator at Boston College and held several different positions, including Director of the annual BC Arts Festival and Project Director for the Arts Council. Cathi has been accompanying musicals, choirs and individuals since she was just 14 years old! She lives in Natick with her two daughters, Abby and Selam.
Claire Mackay
Choreographer
Simonida Spasojevic
Collaborative Pianist
Simonida is a pianist and music teacher working in the greater Boston area. They have trained in classical piano since they were five, and discovered early that making music with other people is some of the greatest fun a person can have. They’ve been lucky enough to work with musicians from all kinds of musical backgrounds, from classical to contemporary premieres. As well as accompanying for Sound and Spirit, they also accompany at the Natick A Capella singers and St. Matthews Church in Acton, tutor children in piano, and haunt the countryside at night searching for gigs. They’re always on the lookout for more opportunities to make music with others, and hope to continue supporting and learning from other music lovers in the future.
