Staff
Michele Adams
Assistant Artistic Director
Michele Adams joined the BCC in 2007 as the Assistant Artistic Director. In this role, Adams conducts three choirs at the intermediate and advanced levels and directs the innovative education program for urban singers. A native of South Carolina, Adams has taught in the public schools in New York City and more recently in Omaha, Nebraska where she was also a staff member of the Nebraska Choral Arts Society.
Adams earned her Bachelor of Music in music education from The University of South Carolina and a Master of Music in choral conducting from Florida State University. She is an active speaker and adjudicator. Adams and her husband, Nick, have two daughters and are active musicians in their church.
madams@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242
Amanda Bedford
Development Associate
Amanda Bedford joined the BCC in 2011 as Development Associate. Prior to BCC, she held positions at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Diego, CA. A lifelong singer, Amanda has been a choral member and on stage for many years. She has been a member of the Somerville Community Chorus and has been seen in many local community theatre productions. Amanda also sits on the board of Encore Theater Company along with her husband.
Amanda holds a B.A. in Music with a concentration in Musical Theatre from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY where she graduated with Departmental Distinction in Music.
abedford@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x230
Julia Carey
Accompanist - Concert Choir
Julia Carey joined the BCC in 2008 where she currently serves as an Accompanist. Carey has been a music director, accompanist, or vocal coach for over thirty opera and musical theater productions. In addition, Carey accompanies a chorus at the Boston Arts Academy, and sings in the choir at Trinity Church in Copley Square.
As one of the first graduates of the Harvard-New England Conservatory joint degree program, Carey recently received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree in composition from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with Michael Gandolfi. Carey is currently enrolled in a second master's degree program in collaborative piano at Boston University.
Katelyn Carson
Marketing and Development Manager
Katelyn Carson joined the BCC in 2011. In her role Katelyn oversees the organization's marketing efforts and acts as liasion to BCC's corporate sponsors. Prior to joining the organization, she worked for a management consulting firm, where she gained a variety of applicable skills while working for Fortune 500 companies. Music has always been an integral part of her life- she has had extensive vocal training, as well as lessons in cello, piano and guitar.
Katelyn graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Music in Arts Management.
kcarson@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x229
Christina DeVaughn
Executive Administrator
Christina DeVaughn joined the BCC in 2012 as the Executive Administrator. She brings over 12 years of varied experience in Fine Arts as a performer and as support staff for Arts Organizations such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood and The New England Conservatory of Music. A native of Boston, she has performed with the Boston Pops, Boston Lyric Opera, Pine Valley Symphony, Chorus pro Musica and the Cantata Singers
She earned her master’s degree in opera performance from the Boston Conservatory, where she was the recipient of the Boston Conservatory Music Division Scholarship. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, where she received the Benjamin S. Carson Scholarship Award and the Joan C. Higgins Prize in the Arts.
cdevaughn@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x233
Marta Dominguez
Teaching Fellow - Choral Union, Dorchester House Training and Intermediate, Central Training, West End House
Marta Dominguez is from New Mexico, where she grew up singing and dancing in community theatre and local choirs. She studied at the New Conservatory of Music and holds a BM in vocal performance. She has taught throughout the Boston music community in organizations such as The Community Music Center of Boston and the Chestnut Hill School and is currently working with Zumix and the Urban Voices Choral Artists program. Most recently, Marta lived in Madrid, Spain for three years, taught English through music, and fulfilled her lifelong dream of learning Spanish. When she isn't driving her neighbors crazy with her vocal warm-ups, Marta can be found rooting for her favorite baseball teams, the Albuquerque Isotopes and the Red Sox. She is so excited to be moving back to Boston and working with the BCC again!
Caroline Harvey
Accompanist - West End House
Caroline Harvey joined the BCC in 2008 as an Accompanist. A native of Iowa, Harvey accompanied the VU Kantorei and Chorale under the batons of Lorraine Brugh, Christopher Cock, Dennis Friesen-Carper and Craig Jessup. She has appeared on concerts throughout the United States, Germany, and England and spent a year as a rehearsal accompanist for the Florida State University Opera department.
Harvey received her Bachelor's of Music in Piano Performance from Valparaiso University and recently completed her Master's degree in Collaborative Piano at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA.
Ben Hires
Director of Programs
Ben Hires joined the BCC in July 2009 as the Director of Programs. In this role, Hires is responsible for providing direction, management and coordination of all choir activities. Hires has held positions at the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras where he learned the importance of music in young people’s lives. Prior to the BYSO, Hires served as a counselor at an outdoor therapeutic program for teens in Paint Rock Valley, Alabama. Most recently, Hires served as the Executive Director of the New England String Ensemble. Hires serves as president of the BU Arts Administration Alumni Association.
Hires earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Political Science, a Master of Theological Studies, and a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University.
bhires@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x222
Emily Howe
Teaching Fellow - PC, CC, YME
Emily Howe joined the BCC in 2009 as an Accompanist and currently serves as a Teaching Fellow. A native of Frederick, Maryland, Howe is active as a soloist and chamber musician in both piano and voice, having performed with the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra and sung with the Davidson College Concert Choir and Chorale. Emily’s work as founder and conductor of The Davidson Singers led the Department of Music to award her the distinction of Honors.
Howe earned her Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in Music and English from Davidson College, where she studied piano, voice, and conducting. She earned her Masters degree in Choral Conducting at Boston University, where she serves as the Director of the Boston University Choral Society.
Irene Idicheria
Neighborhood Training Choir Director
Irene Idicheria joined the Boston Children’s Chorus in 2009 as director of the West End House and Central Training choirs. In addition to her work with the Training choirs, Idicheria currently conducts Choral Union. She has also served as the Assistant Conductor for the North Shore Youth Symphony Orchestra Chorale. Idicheria successfully created the third and fourth grade chorus at the Guillmette Elementary School in Lawrence, MA where she continues her role as general music teacher and choral director. As a first year teacher she was nominated for the Rising Star Teacher of the Year Award.
Idicheria earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Gordon College. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Music Education at the Hartt School, University of Hartford where she also completed her Kodaly Level II training.
iidicheria@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242
Sarah Koonce
Accompanist
Sarah Koonce joined the BCC in 2008 as an Accompanist. Previous positions for accompanying and/or musical direction include Emerson College, New England Conservatory Preparatory School, Interlochen Arts Camp, New England Light Opera, Seaside Music Theatre, Stonehill College, Belvoir Terrace, Sharing a New Song (Cuba and South Africa tours), and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Koonce also accompanied for the Handel and Haydn Society Vocal Quartet in an educational program that reaches over 10,000 students a year in the greater Boston area, and accompanied H&H’s Young Women’s Chorus. Her piano teaching experience includes H&H’s Saturday School at Boston Latin and the Chestnut Hill School. She also sings with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with whom she has toured Europe and performed in Carnegie Hall.
Koonce holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance from Florida State University, where she studied piano, voice and organ. She also completed a fellowship in vocal accompanying/coaching at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
John Reynolds
Conductor - Dorchester House Training, South Boston, and Villa Victoria Choirs
John Reynolds, Training Chorus Director for the Boston Children’s Chorus, conducts the Dorchester House, South Boston, and Villa Victoria Training Choirs. John is an active performer and educator throughout Greater New England. As an educator, he has taught in various public schools, after-school music institutions, children’s choruses, and several community center teen leadership programs. In addition to his responsibilities at BCC, John teaches K-8 General Music and Chorus with the Cambridge Public Schools.
A versatile performer, John has performed with Opera Cleveland, Opera Providence, and Boston Opera Collaborative. He holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baldwin-Wallace College, Conservatory of Music. John completed Level II Kodály certification at New England Conservatory and has received additional performance training from the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS), Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center, and the Franco-American Vocal Academy (FAVA).
Heather Rogers
Director of Finance and Administration
Heather Rogers joined the BCC in July 2009 as the Director of Finance and Administration. She brings over a decade of experience to BCC, including corporate finance as well as nonprofit finance and accounting, operations management, IT and database management and revenue recognition. Her experience in the nonprofit sector includes four years at From the Top where she managed the finance office. Rogers resides in Ashland with her husband and two daughters. She is active in her community where she currently sits on the board of the Volunteer Family. She is a 2009 graduate of the Leadership Metrowest Academy.
Rogers earned her Master’s of Science in Finance from Suffolk University and her Bachelor’s degree in French Literature and International Affairs from the University of New Hampshire.
hrogers@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x223
Mary Toropov
Director of Individual Giving
Mary Toropov joined the BCC in January 2012 as Director of Individual Giving. She brings over two decades of fundraising and donor development experience to BCC, having served as Director of Leadership Gifts for the WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston’s public television and radio stations, for the prior fifteen years. Other roles at WGBH included managing their monthly Sustainer program, LearningTours travel program, special events, audience and member services, telefundraising and gift processing.
Toropov earned her bachelor of arts degree in Sociology and Theater Arts from Brandeis University. She serves on the board of deacons at Middleton Congregational Church, and is a Trustee of the Flint Public Library in Middleton, where she headed a recent capital campaign. She is a musical theater performer and choral singer and currently sings with the Middleton Congregational Church choir and the Andover Choral Society.
mtoropov@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242
Tyler Turner
Teaching Fellow - Young Men's Ensemble and Concert Choir
Tyler Turner joined BCC in 2011 as a Teaching Fellow for the Young Men’s Ensemble and the Concert Choir. As a musician, Turner has extensive training as a pianist and choral conductor. In addition to working with collegiate ensembles throughout the United States, Turner has conducted professional choral and orchestral ensembles in the Czech-Republic and Bulgaria. Turner’s experience in education includes work with urban school districts such as the Memphis City Schools in Memphis, TN and the Breakthrough Collaborative in Manchester, NH.
Turner holds a bachelor of arts in music and educational studies from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where he graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Turner is currently studying at Harvard University as a master of education candidate. His research and writing interests revolve around the unique interplay between the arts and education.
Anthony Victoria
Program Manager
Anthony Victoria joined the BCC in 2010 as Program Manager. Prior to joining BCC, Victoria held a number of arts administration roles including: Manager of Performance Programs for the Education Department at Citi Performing Arts Center, and Production Manager and Associate Director of Education for All Children's Theatre of Rhode Island. Directing and teaching credits include The Un-Common Theatre Company (MA), Pegasus Players (IL), and NewGate Theatre (RI). Victoria was Artist-In-Residence for SMARTS Collaborative and served as Co-Director for The Sage Stage at The Sage School. Anthony is a certified Youth Worker by Health Resources in Action, Inc.
Victoria holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.
avictoria@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x225
Jan Woiler Meuse
Director of Institutional Giving
Jan Woiler Meuse joined the BCC in 2004 having been an arts administrator and violinist in the Boston area since 1986. Jan successfully secures and oversees BCC’s foundation and government funding relationships. These grants represent approximately 50% of revenues, the largest portion of revenue in BCC’s operating budget each year.
Prior to joining BCC, she served as General Manager of the Zamir Chorale; as Business Manager for Libana, the renowned seven-woman world folk ensemble; and held management roles with Triptych and the Civic Symphony Orchestra of Boston. An avid orchestral and chamber musician, Woiler Meuse performed with the Boston Philharmonic, is a regular staff assistant and participant in the Chamber Music Conference and Composers' Forum of the East, and toured with the Santa Monica Chamber Symphony. Her professional experience also includes a 14-year tenure as an administrator for BankBoston.
Woiler Meuse earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
jwoiler@bostonchildrenschorus.org
617-778-2242 x226
