Southeastern Massachusetts Festival Chorus
ARTISTIC STAFF
Eric Brown
Artistic & Music Director
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A native of East Freetown, Massachusetts, Mr. Brown is the founding music director of the Southeastern Massachusetts Festival Chorus. Under his leadership, the group has grown to 100 singers and has performed at numerous venues across the region including the Godspeed Sail Landing Festival in Boston, Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts (Xfinity Center), Martha’s Vineyard Tabernacle,Providence Performing Arts Center and Amica Mutual Pavillion. As a conductor and music director, Brown has led productions for Star Players of Bristol County, Heart to Heart Productions and Fairhaven High School Drama Club. A 35-year veteran church organist, Mr. Brown has held positions with churches in Raynham, Taunton, and East Bridgewater and is currently Organist-Choir Director at First Congregational Church of Raynham UCC (“The Stone Church”). He is the former director of the Christian Hill Singers, who were featured performers in the Society of Historically Informed Performers' Concert Series at Boston's "First Night 2001” and was music director for the Taunton Civic Chorus from 2012 to 2017. Brown has performed vocally as a soloist with the Mansfield Choral Society and the Mayflower Chorale and has sung with the Greater New Bedford Choral Society and Oure Pleasure Singers. A recorder enthusiast, he was a founding member of the Mill River Consort and Hockomock Recorder Consort. Brown is employed full-time as a Benefits Manager for National Amusements. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, reading, and historical dramas.
Laura Brophy
Assistant Music Director
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Laura Brophy is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell where she studied music education and vocal performance. Laura received her Masters from Bridgewater State University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts from Boston University. She is the choral director at Mansfield High School. Laura lives in Taunton, Massachusetts with her family. She is honored and excited to take on this new role with the Southeastern Massachusetts Festival Chorus.
Gabrielle Heath
Accompanist
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A southeastern MA native, Gabrielle Heath attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music as a double major in Piano Performance and Music Education. During a long break from formal education, she focused on collaborative piano work with singers and instrumentalists in a variety of musical styles, while also performing on keyboards, flute, and vocals in country, rock, and function bands. She eventually returned to studying music at Bridgewater State College (now University) and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude. A long-time church musician, Gabrielle currently serves as Minister of Music at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood.
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Jennifer Schubert
Executive Director
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Jennifer Schubert grew up in Boonton, NJ, and now resides in Taunton, MA with her husband and two step-daughters. She has built a career dedicated to community and workforce development, spending 12 years of her career working in the nonprofit sector. In her current full time role, she serves as the Operations Manager at Our Generation Speaks (OGS), where she manages logistics and finance for the nonprofit. Before OGS, she was a Center Manager at the Providence/Cranston American Job Center and a Workforce Development Program Manager at Community Work Services, where she focused on creating opportunities for individuals with barriers to work to learn and grow in their careers. Jennifer is currently pursuing an EMBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology and is a graduate from programs at Suffolk University and Johnson and Wales University. Beyond her love of singing, she enjoys cooking, traveling with her family, watching movies, and going to shows.
Peter Hoye
Web and Graphic Design Administrator
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A native of Taunton, Massachusetts, Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Secondary Education from Stonehill College in Easton, MA and a Master’s degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. He has worked in the performing arts for over 15 years, working with groups such as the Star Players of Bristol County, The Family Performing Arts Center at Bridgewater State University and the Oliver Ames High School Music Department. He is employed full-time as an Operations and Marketing Coordinator at Red Oak Hospitality. He is also a board member of the Miss Taunton Scholarship Program, chair of the Taunton Cultural Council and a freelance graphic and web designer. In his spare time he enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and baking.
Allyson Totaro
Marketing and Communications Associate
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Allyson Totaro is originally from Central Pennsylvania, where she participated in choral singing starting from a young age. At Lycoming College, she was a paid member of the Chamber Choir and toured throughout the United States, and internationally, with the College's Tour Choir. Allyson later moved to Massachusetts to attend law school. After several years away from choral singing, Allyson rediscovered her passion for performance by joining SMFC in Spring 2017. Alongside her work as a public defender, Allyson channels her enthusiasm for the arts into her work as the Marketing and Communications Associate with the chorus, where she helps amplify the organization’s voice, connects with audiences, and promotes the transformative power of choral music.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Deb DeFilippo
President
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Deb DeFilippo lives in Franklin MA with her family and cats. An Air Force childhood led to many addresses and several cross country moves. Her musical and theatrical debut was in kindergarten playing the title role in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. She has performed with many groups including the Cornell University Chorus, Greater Milford Community Chorus, Taunton Community Chorus- but has found her singing family with SMFC. During the school year you can find her cooking for Franklin High School students as a cafeteria lead. She also enjoys reading, coffee, cheese, and traveling.
OFFICERS
​Vice President
Jenifer Lovely​​​
​Treasurer
Molly Riordan​​
​Secretaries
Teri A. Kinder
Caitlin Komm
DIRECTORS
Wayne Arsenault
Brad Barnsley
Laura Cassiani
Laurie A. Gagne’ ​
Jessica L. Hamel
Karl Pelletier
Pam Ten Eyck
Robyn Waters