ABOUT US

Heather Skidds, Director

Heather Skidds has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY where she studied voice and music education, and a Master of Arts in Liturgical Music from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN where she studied voice, choral conducting and organ. Heather currently serves as the Associate Director of Music at Christ the King Church in Kingston, RI.  Heather is on the board of the Providence Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and the Providence Diocesan Music Commission.  Heather also teaches piano, voice, and general music at her private studio and at local schools.  Heather has performed for many years as a church musician, soprano soloist, choir director, pianist, organist and teacher throughout RI, MA, NY and MN. She lives in Exeter with her husband and two children. Heather is honored to be a part of the North Kingstown Community Chorus family!  She can be reached at (401) 573-7564 or by email at hskidds@gmail.com

Heather Savage, Accompanist

​Heather Savage is a life-long musician who began reading music and playing the piano at the age of three.  She studied classical piano with Dr. Donald Rankin and jazz piano with Dennis Hughes.  During her school years, she also played clarinet and saxophone with the concert and jazz bands.

Heather has been the pianist for several musicals, including Little Shop of Horrors, The Wiz, Godspell, Grease, The Legend of Sweeney Todd, and Les Miserables, in addition to several cabarets. Heather serves as the music director and pianist at Carolina Free Baptist Church in Carolina, RI.  She has been teaching piano privately for over 20 years.  In addition to playing and teaching, Heather has composed and arranged several pieces including works for solo piano, cello, saxophone, orchestra, guitar ensemble, and congregational worship.

Heather received her undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island, double-majoring in music and elementary education.  She recently studied music composition under Dr. Larry Bell at New England Conservatory.  The Rhode Island Junior All-State Guitar Ensemble performed her piece, Thoughts of Michael, in March 2016.

Heather also runs a small homeschool music program where she directs the orchestra, coaches the woodwind ensemble, accompanies the choir, and teaches music theory and beginning winds and percussion.  Heather teaches piano privately and has extensive experience working with children with autism, dyslexia, and ADHD.

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Board of Directors

Jim Findley, Chairman
​I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit it, but I joined the West Point Glee Club because it took 20 trips a year. But I discovered I really liked singing in a group! I joined the chorus in 2005, and have loved every minute of it – the singing, the laughter, the friends, the being part of something bigger than yourself … As chairman, my main job is to work with the Director and the other board members to keep the chorus a fun and successful organization. I also run the annual fund drive.

Pinkie Sweet-Holland, Treasurer
Pinkie is a founding member of the NKCC (1985) and for her it is a family affair as two of her grandchildren sang in the Youth Chorus. She loves to sing but also keeps us financially in the black! She officially retired in 2013 and now drives for a non-profit organization (F.I.S.H.) pretty much full time. She has been sailing since she was 5 years old and continues that passion during the summer and fall months. She is the original owner of a Cape Dory Typhoon day sailor and has been sailing Sweet-Pea since 1976. She is an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where you may find her assisting the Rector, Ushering, Greeting, Studying, taking Eucharist out to parishioners who are no longer able to come to church and has served on the Vestry, former President of St. Paul’s ECW and served on the Altar Guild.

​Barbara Pease,
​Public Relations & Ticket Sales
​I joined the chorus in 1998 and have been on the BOD since 2007. I’m in charge of Ticket Sales and Public Relations. Why is chorus important to me? I love to sing, plain and simple, and I love to sing in a large group setting. I love to hear all the vocal parts blend to make beautiful, inspiring music. 

Rick Gebhart, Outreach Coordinator
​I joined the chorus in 2013 and have found my "chorus family". The minute I walked into my first rehearsal with the group, I felt welcomed. I enjoy making choral music with others and the North Kingstown Community Chorus is a terrific group of singers. I was asked to join the board a year ago and I was happy to help given how hard everyone works to put on successful concerts. Enjoy the music because we enjoy singing it!

Barbara Valois,
​Librarian & Youth Chorus
​I joined the chorus in 1987 and became a member of the board of directors in 2013. My primary board responsibilities are the youth chorus advisor position and music librarian. I love to sing and singing with this wonderful group of people is a joy. It is rewarding to rehearse all season and end up sharing beautiful music with the community. Rehearsal night is one of my favorite nights of the week due to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere found with this group of people

​Norm Poulin, Vice Chair
​I have been singing in choruses and choirs since high school, and in the North Kingstown Community Chorus since it’s inception in 1985.  I met my wife Dana when she joined the chorus in 1995. After 44 years of teaching math, I recently retired and now work as a math tutor.  My daughter Nicole, who sang in the Youth Chorus and the Adult Chorus, lives in Florida with her husband and her two boys. This is my second tour of duty as a member of the Board of Directors.

Sarah Rosendale,
​Member Relations & Ad Sales
​After singing with groups in high school and college, I took a break from singing in graduate school, and then when my children were babies. In 2014, after 12 years of singing alone in my car, I joined the NKCC, and can't believe I waited so long to join a group again! I very happily joined the board in 2017 and coordinate social activities such as our Cast Party and Sing-For-Your-Supper. When I'm not at rehearsal, I work as a Teacher of the Deaf, supporting students and teachers across the state of Rhode Island. I am the mother of three, and in my free time (?!), when not singing, I love to read, run, and knit. ​

​Priscilla Welsh,
​Secretary & Scholarship Program
​It’s a joyful and rewarding experience being part of the NKCC; I look forward to learning something every rehearsal that results in an “entertainment gift” for our concert attendees. I enjoy my role as Secretary of the Board; and especially each Spring, I look forward to working with talented young scholarship applicants. Along with being an ardent Anglophile, I spend as much time as possible with my eyes in a book, owning 12,000 of my own, including a 7,000-volume children’s library! We all look forward to seeing your smiling faces in our future audiences!

​Andria Morenzi, Public Relations
I found a home with the NKCC in 2014 to continue my lifetime love of singing.  This love comes naturally in a family that performs in everything from opera to barbershop chorus!  I have been impressed with the talent, dedication, friendship and enthusiasm of the chorus, and am honored to serve on the board in a public relations capacity. I also look forward to assisting with any trips we may take to share our talents or just to have fun.  My other roles include wife and mother to two young adults, Speech-Language Pathologist (recently retired), and member of the St. Mark Parish choir in Jamestown where I make my home.  If you enjoy singing, come join us on Tuesday nights, and if not, sit back and enjoy the music!