Faculty and Staff

Christine Noel, Founding Artistic Director

Director of Choral Activities at Clark University, Christine Noel is currently completing a Doctorate in Conducting at Boston University, where she has studied with Ann Howard Jones and David Hoose. She was the 2008 recipient of the Boston University Women's Council Scholarship, the 2007 recipient of the Conducting Faculty Honors Award at BU and is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. A member of the American Choral Directors Association, she chairs the Children’s Choral Activities for ACDA in Rhode Island and conducted the RI Children's Chorus at the 2010 Eastern Division Convention of ACDA in Philadelphia. Ms. Noel also conducted at the 2009 Eastern Division Convention of the Music Educators' National Conference (MENC). She recently served as Musical Director for productions of Our Town and A Christmas Carol at Trinity Repertory Company. Fluent in the Italian language, Ms. Noel studied at the Istituto Italiano in Florence, Italy and attained the highest level of Italian studies at the University of Florence. She is also a graduate of the Kodály Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. While living in Italy, she served as assistant conductor and vocal coach for two Italian choirs, Animae Voces and Coro Polifonico di Caricentro and performed with them as soprano soloist throughout the country. Ms. Noel is the Associate Conductor of the Providence Singers, which she will prepare this year for performances of Messiah, Carmina Burana and Mahler Symphony No. 3. She is also the Artistic Director of the Carillon Women's Chorus and is Founder and Director of Broadway Bound, a seasonal musical theatre camp for children.

Joyce Wolfe, Co-founder and Executive Director

Joyce Wolfe serves as the Executive Director of the RI Children’s Chorus and is responsible for the many administrative needs of the organization.  She is a graduate of URI and has taught in Cranston and Woonsocket schools.  For many years she owned and managed the Village Realtors agency of Chepachet.  She is a member of the Providence Singers and the Carillon Women’s Chorus.  As a parent and former teacher, Ms. Wolfe brings her knowledge and expertise in working with children to helping RICC provide the best possible choral experience for the singers and their families.

John Henry Burns, Conductor - Lyric Chorus

John Henry Burns recently received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Rhode Island College.  An accomplished pianist, he has studied extensively with Judith Lynn Stillman and attended numerous master classes with renowned pianists.  He has presented solo recitals at many Providence area venues and is in demand as an accompanist.  Mr. Burns is the music teacher and director of the chorus at Woonsocket Middle School, organist/choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Pawtucket, RI and accompanies for the Junior Providence Singers.   For the past four summers, he has been the music director at Kidstock Creative Children’s Theater, where he composed an original musical every two weeks of the summer.  Mr. Burns has music directed professional/equity productions of You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Little Shop of Horrors, and Nunsense at the NextDoor Theater in Winchester, MA.  He currently resides in Providence and enjoys being outdoors and cooking.

Ashley Prickel, Conductor - Training Chorus

Ashley Prickel recently graduated from Skidmore College, NY with degrees in Music and Psychology and is currently teaching in Providence elementary schools with the program Teach For America. Ashley has guest conducted the Skidmore College Vocal Chamber Ensemble, the Skidmore College Chorus, and the Skidmore Orchestra, and has been the musical director and conductor at the United Methodist Church in Borodino, NY and the Unitarian Universalist Church in Saratoga Springs, NY. This spring, she organized and performed as a vocal soloist and conductor of a student choir in her senior capstone recital entitled A”muse”ing Music. She has worked at children’s summer theater camps and been a vocal coach for middle and high school students across New York State. After singing in choirs her whole life and particularly the distinguished St. Augustinerkirche Chor in Vienna, Austria she has experienced the great joy and healing powers of music and wishes to share her passion in the years to come.

Kathy Hart, Accompanist - Training Chorus

Kathy Hart is the Director of Music at Greenwood Community Church, Presbyterian in Warwick, RI, where she is organist and directs the Chancel Choir, a teen/adult handbell group, and an elementary singing/ringing choir.  She writes/arranges sacred music and is a soprano in The Providence Singers.  Kathy also enjoys playing and singing with granddaughter Lillie, who is the reason she moved from Dallas to Providence in 2006.

Elsie Law, Accompanist - Principal and Chamber Choruses

Elsie Law, a talented pianist and music teacher, completed her undergraduate studies in music at RI College, where she was a student of Stephen Martorella and Lila Kane. Now in her eighth year as accompanist for the RI Children's Chorus, Ms. Law is highly regarded by the staff, children, parents, and audiences of RICC. She also teaches private piano students at the Grand Piano studio in Smithfield, RI.

Sarah Kane, Senior Staff Teaching Assistant

Sarah Kane is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education at Rhode Island College, where she is a member of many ensembles, including the RIC Chamber Singers, RIC Chorus, "Will Sing for Food," the college's a cappella ensemble, and "The Perfect Fourths," a female quartet. Sarah studies violin, piano and oboe in addition to voice. She is currently working as the alto section leader for the Community Church of Providence's choir, as an accompanist for several schools in the RI area, and as a private violin teacher. She has been a staff member of the RI Children's Chorus for four years.

Erin Flood, Senior Staff Teaching Assistant

Erin Flood is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education at Rhode Island College, where she is a member of many ensembles, including the RIC Chamber Singers, RIC Chorus, "Will Sing for Food," the college's a cappella ensemble, and "The Perfect Fourths," a female quartet. Erin also studies piano in addition to voice. Gifted with working with young singers, Erin has been a staff member of the RI Children's Chorus for four years.

Catherine Monfette, Senior Staff Teaching Assistant

Catherine Monfette is currently studying music at the Community College of Rhode Island, where she serves as vice president of the Chamber Singers. She has performed as soloist in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms with the Clark University Choruses, with which she will also perform in the coming year. Highlights from her many projects with RICC include collaborations with the RI Philharmonic, the Providence Singers, and invitational performances at MENC and ACDA conventions. Catherine has been a staff member of the RI Children's Chorus for five years, after joining the RICC family in its first year in 2003.

2010-2011 Assistants

Senior Staff - Teaching Assistants
Erin Flood
Sarah Kane
Catherine Monfette

Junior Staff
Hanna MacDonald
Miranda MacDonald
Nina Silva
Alexia Williams