Artistic Staff

Eric Brown | Artistic & Music Director

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 Dunkin’ Donuts Center. 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

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

Gabrielle Heath grew up in Walpole, MA, where she was very active in local school and summer music programs. Heath began her collegiate studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, as a double major in Piano Performance and Music Education. After two years, she took a long break from formal education, during which she performed on keyboards, flute, and vocals in country, rock, and function bands. Gabrielle graduated from Bridgewater State College in 2009, summa cum laude, with a BA in Music. A church musician since 1988, Gabrielle is currently Minister of Music at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood. She does freelance piano and keyboard work, and enjoys collaborating with singers and instrumentalists in a variety of musical styles.

Peter Hoye | Graphic & Web Designer

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 10 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 a Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for Signature Healthcare in Brockton, MA. He is also a board member of the Miss Taunton Scholarship Program and a freelance graphic and web designer. In his spare time he enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and baking.

Board of Directors

Deb DeFilippo, President
Jenifer Lovely, Vice President
Molly Riordan, Treasurer
Teri A. Kinder, Secretary
Caitlin Komm, Secretary
Wayne Arsenault
Brad Barnsley
Laura Cassiani
Christine Comeau
RoseMary Fletcher
Laurie Gagne’
Jessica L. Hamel
Jennifer Miniman
Karl Pelletier
Robyn Waters