Esther Rhoades, Artistic Director
Esther Rhoades is the Artistic Director of Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs. She directs all five GMYC ensembles under her direction, 3 ensembles rehearsing in Peterborough and two in Keene. Her energetic teaching style, expertise in music, and infectious positivity allow GMYC singers to thrive and grow not only musically, but also as individuals.
Esther has been immersed in choral music since childhood, which inspired her to complete a Bachelor’s of Science in Music from the University of Delaware. While at UD, she was the student assistant choral director of the internationally renowned University of Delaware Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Paul D. Head. She has also received training at Westminster Choir College. After graduation, she taught public high school chorus and music classes in VT and NH. Additionally, Esther was the Assistant Artistic Director and Conductor of the Children’s Chorus of Springfield in Massachusetts. After returning to Keene, Esther served Keene Unitarian Universalist Church as their Choir Director, and the Monadnock Waldorf High School teaching the a cappella choir.
When you can’t find Esther making music, she is likely hiking, baking cookies, or playing outside with her husband, Jason, and three daughters.
Esther has been immersed in choral music since childhood, which inspired her to complete a Bachelor’s of Science in Music from the University of Delaware. While at UD, she was the student assistant choral director of the internationally renowned University of Delaware Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Paul D. Head. She has also received training at Westminster Choir College. After graduation, she taught public high school chorus and music classes in VT and NH. Additionally, Esther was the Assistant Artistic Director and Conductor of the Children’s Chorus of Springfield in Massachusetts. After returning to Keene, Esther served Keene Unitarian Universalist Church as their Choir Director, and the Monadnock Waldorf High School teaching the a cappella choir.
When you can’t find Esther making music, she is likely hiking, baking cookies, or playing outside with her husband, Jason, and three daughters.
Carin Torp, pianist for Elm City Singers & Choristers
Carin Torp has loved music and children forever, so is very happy to join GMYC in working with the Choristers and Elm City Singers within the Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs.
Previous musical roles in the Monadnock region include choir directing and musical accompanying at the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, working with Cupcake camp at Moco Arts and singing in local choirs, Raylynmor and musical theatre performances.
Carin has a private practice as a Dance/Movement and Psychotherapist: Carin Torp Healing Arts, and teaches toddler/adult dance classes at Moco Arts. She believes completely in both the necessity of the arts and in their innate healing and unifying powers.
Previous musical roles in the Monadnock region include choir directing and musical accompanying at the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, working with Cupcake camp at Moco Arts and singing in local choirs, Raylynmor and musical theatre performances.
Carin has a private practice as a Dance/Movement and Psychotherapist: Carin Torp Healing Arts, and teaches toddler/adult dance classes at Moco Arts. She believes completely in both the necessity of the arts and in their innate healing and unifying powers.
Pablo Gorin, pianist for Cecilia Ensemble
Dr. Pablo Gorin has recently been appointed as Collaborative Pianist and Organ Instructor at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire. He has recently served as Associate Director of Music and Cathedral Organist at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Albany, New York. At the Cathedral, Gorin developed and run the Diocesan Organist Training Program, a course of organ studies devoted to promoting the education and dissemination of organ performance across the region. Gorin earned the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa in 2018, concentrating in Organ Performance and Pedagogy. As part of his doctoral research, he was granted the Stanley Award for International Research of the University of Iowa, which enabled him to investigate the manuscripts of the organ works of Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) at the Paul Sacher Foundation in Basel, Switzerland, during the summer of 2015. Gorin’s doctoral research focuses on Ginastera’s late composition for organ Variazioni e Toccata sopra “Aurora lucis rutila,” a work of tremendous technical and interpretative difficulties, which has been neglected from the concert stage after its World premiere in 1980. Gorin’s essay seeks to clarify the challenges that this work presents to both performers and audiences alike.
As organist, he has concertized throughout the Midwest (including an invitation to perform at the famed Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, as part of its centennial celebrations) as well as in Germany and Switzerland. He has also been concertizing as a solo pianist from an early age and has performed recitals in South America and across the United States. Gorin has previously served as organist and choirmaster for various congregations, among them St. Ann Catholic church and Grace Episcopal Church of West Palm Beach in Florida, St. Mary of the Visitation in Iowa City, and Assumption Grotto Church of Detroit, where he performed concertos and choir masses with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Originally from Rosario, Argentina, Gorin immigrated to the United States with his family in the mid-nineties and attended the University of Miami, where he studied with American pianist Ivan Davis (former protégé of Vladimir Horowitz). After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance in 2002, Gorin received a full music scholarship from Florida International University to pursue graduate studies in piano performance with internationally renowned concert pianist Kemal Gekic, and after his graduation joined the faculty of Miami Dade College in 2005 where he taught music courses for several years.
Gorin is eager to start a teaching piano studio in Keene, as well as keeping a busy performing schedule as a pianist and organist.
As organist, he has concertized throughout the Midwest (including an invitation to perform at the famed Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, as part of its centennial celebrations) as well as in Germany and Switzerland. He has also been concertizing as a solo pianist from an early age and has performed recitals in South America and across the United States. Gorin has previously served as organist and choirmaster for various congregations, among them St. Ann Catholic church and Grace Episcopal Church of West Palm Beach in Florida, St. Mary of the Visitation in Iowa City, and Assumption Grotto Church of Detroit, where he performed concertos and choir masses with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Originally from Rosario, Argentina, Gorin immigrated to the United States with his family in the mid-nineties and attended the University of Miami, where he studied with American pianist Ivan Davis (former protégé of Vladimir Horowitz). After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance in 2002, Gorin received a full music scholarship from Florida International University to pursue graduate studies in piano performance with internationally renowned concert pianist Kemal Gekic, and after his graduation joined the faculty of Miami Dade College in 2005 where he taught music courses for several years.
Gorin is eager to start a teaching piano studio in Keene, as well as keeping a busy performing schedule as a pianist and organist.
Board of Directors
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President, Scott Clarke
Scott Clarke is a musical product of Keene High School. He attended the University of Rochester to study business and Philosophy. Scott was a supporter of A cappella singing long before its recent popularity, singing in the U of R YELLOWJACKETS. Scott currently performs with the Chamber Singers of Keene, and Main Street Broadway. Scott has been the President of DOUGLAS CO in Keene for over 20 years. |
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Vice President, Lisa Mahar
Lisa Mahar served as administrator of Monadnock Waldorf School in Keene for twenty-six years, a school where students in early childhood through high school are nurtured by an educational program rich in both arts and academics. Lisa holds a bachelor degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was a founding member in 1984 of the Noonday Singers, a chorus focusing on peace, social justice, and music of liberation from around the world. Lisa also provides educational consultant services to Waldorf schools and serves as a member of the board for Monadnock Food Co-op. She has three grown children and seven grand children and lives in Keene with her husband Bill Beardslee. |
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Treasurer, Bill Goodwin
Bill Goodwin has been a Board member of the Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs since 2005 and has handled the Treasurer’s position during all of those years. He graduated from Worcester Polytecnic Institute (WPI) in 1963 and worked in the bearing industry as a mechanical engineer from 1964 - 1996, working in both Connecticut and New Hampshire. Following retirement, he became very involved with community work and arts organizations. Bill has served as Chairman of numerous town committees in Dublin during the past 20 years and is currently treasurer of four organizations. He served as Trustee chairman at the Dublin Community Church for many years and has been actively involved with the Monadnock United Way campaign for the past 10 years. Bill was one of the founders of the Peterborough Folk Music Society, following the closing of the Folkway in 1995. |
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Secretary, Theresa Majoy
Theresa Majoy graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Lowell State College in Elementary Ed. and received her Master of Ed. From Boston University. Working as an educator for 40 years, she spent the majority of time in the classroom and some time also in administration. Theresa has 2 step-children, 4 adopted children, and 1 adopted grandchild, Emma, who is in the Keene Youth Chorus. Theresa’s participation on the board is fueled by her appreciation of Maria and Esther’s enthusiasm and love for their work and the quality performances they bring forth from the singers. Perseverance and organization are what Theresa contributes to the board. |
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Michelle Cutting
Michelle Cutting is a resident of Peterborough and the mother of a current Cecilia Ensemble singer as well as a Cecilia Alumna. Growing up, Michelle's family was enmeshed in music; every family gathering involved sitting around a guitar or two, singing, and making music together. Her family sings at home, in the car, and as they walk through their day... often very loudly! Michelle has also enjoyed singing both in her former high school choir and at church. One of her very favorite things is watching her own children and those who sing with GMYC bring beautiful music to life. Professionally, Michelle has worked for the past 25 years for a nonprofit organization in Massachusetts that supports people with disabilities. It is there that Michelle has supported many projects and initiatives aimed at improving peoples' overall lives. She hopes to use these same skills to support the GMYC board. |
Maria Belva, GMYC co-founder
Maria Belva saw a need for choral music education for youth in the Monadnock Region, and along with her husband David Vernier founded the Peterborough Children’s Choir in 1997. Beginning with 20 children ages 7 - 12, Maria cultivated a community of choral music excellence and expanded the one choir into three with 70 singers by 2010. The choir’s name was changed to the Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs in 2011 to reflect that growth. In 2015, Esther Rhoades joined Maria to help grow and strengthen the organization, and in May of 2017 Maria passed the Directorship to Esther.
Maria Belva is a professional choral conductor and private voice teacher. She is a Certified McClosky Voice Technician. Maria has acted and directed for Raylynmor Opera. She is also active as a soprano soloist throughout the Monadnock Region, and in this capacity, she has performed leading roles in operatic and music theatre productions and appears often in churches, community events, benefits, and occasional solo recitals. Maria is a life-long chorister and understands first-hand the impact of creating music together. Founding and nurturing a youth choir for 20 years was the perfect culmination of Maria’s love of children and love of singing!
Maria Belva is a professional choral conductor and private voice teacher. She is a Certified McClosky Voice Technician. Maria has acted and directed for Raylynmor Opera. She is also active as a soprano soloist throughout the Monadnock Region, and in this capacity, she has performed leading roles in operatic and music theatre productions and appears often in churches, community events, benefits, and occasional solo recitals. Maria is a life-long chorister and understands first-hand the impact of creating music together. Founding and nurturing a youth choir for 20 years was the perfect culmination of Maria’s love of children and love of singing!
David Vernier, GMYC co-founder
David Vernier, accompanist, is a lifelong choral musician whose early professional career included teaching positions and conductorships in various public schools and colleges in the U.S. and Canada.
He is an internationally known music critic who co-founded Classicstoday.com. David has degrees from New England Conservatory (B.Mus.) and Columbia University (M.A.; M.Ed.).
He is an internationally known music critic who co-founded Classicstoday.com. David has degrees from New England Conservatory (B.Mus.) and Columbia University (M.A.; M.Ed.).