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 and coordinate the outreach concerts.

Pinkie Sweet-Holland, Treasurer
​Pinkie is a founding member of the NKCC (yes, that means 31 years ago) 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 sails and hikes in her free time.

​Barbara Pease, Public Relations
​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, Secretary
​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

Kathy Castro, Webmaster
​I love to sing, and I love to sing with other people. This chorus is a real community! Kathy spends the rest of her time traveling to Africa for work and riding her horses!

​Janis Knight- Member Relations
​I found the NK Community Chorus after relocating to RI in 2010. Having grown up singing in school and churches, I was thrilled to find a local choral group! It wasn’t long afterward that I volunteered for the Board (apparently channeling my mother). Known as the Queen of Sign-Up Sheets, my primary responsibility is to coordinate seasonal membership efforts to ensure a successful concert. Sign-up sheets allow me to encourage much needed member participation beyond singing. In addition, I get to facilitate the fun stuff; cast parties, birthday acknowledgements, and Sing-for-your-Supper talent shows. NK Community Chorus has provided me with a sense of belonging, a community of caring people, and a fabulous venue for joyous expression! Thank you!

​Priscilla Welsh, 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. Having joined the Board in the Spring of 2017, I’m looking forward to working with talented young scholarship applicants in the future. 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!

​Sarah Rosendale, Social Coordinator
​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 3 (Leah - 10, Sam - 8, and Sophie - 6), and in my free time (?!), when not singing, I love to read, run, and knit.