STAFF
Julie Bickford, Artistic Director
Julie is a conductor, music educator, and classically trained soprano dedicated to inspiring singers of all ages through high-quality choral music-making. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College and a Master of Music Education from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford.
Julie began her conducting career with Chorus Angelicus, where she served as Junior Choir Conductor for nearly a decade, cultivating young singers and fostering a lifelong love of choral music. She later joined the faculty at Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington as Choir Director, where she built a vibrant and inclusive choral program. Her work there has included founding the school’s first a cappella group, the Spartones, and broadening the curriculum to encompass piano study and music theory, creating new pathways for student musicians to grow and excel.
Grounded in her experience as a performer, Julie brings a singer’s sensitivity and a deep musicality to her work on the podium, inspiring expressive, confident performances. She lives in Southfield with her husband and two sons.
Elizabeth Allyn, Collaborative Pianist
Elizabeth 'Liz' Allyn is a graduate of the Hartt College of Music and has a Master of Arts and Liberal Studies degree from Wesleyan University. Since 2002 she has served as the Minister of Music for the Church of Christ Congregational (UCC). She previously worked as an accompanist in a private voice studio and at Hotchkiss School. After teaching music in the CT public school system for forty years she is now happy to return to the accompanist bench, under Julie Bickford’s leadership. She has also returned to Chorus Angelicus as collaborative accompanist for the senior choir. Elizabeth lives in Norfolk with her husband Graham.
Dorothy Cowles, Collaborative Pianist
Dorothy Cowles has a BM in piano performance and a BS in music education from Penn State, as well as a MMED in early childhood music and choral conducting from The Hartt School of Music. She has taught music at both St. Gabriel School in Windsor and the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, where she was Head of the Music Department for seven years. As an accompanist, Dorothy has played for numerous school concerts in the Simsbury and Granby, CT schools, and Monument Mountain High School, as well as accompanying for the Joyful Noise organization. An organist and choir director for many years, she served as the Director of Children, Youth and Contemporary Music Ministries at the Simsbury United Methodist Church for 19 years. Currently, she is still directing the Contemporary Music Ministries at SUM and is a Kindergarten TA in Granby, CT.
Mae Whaley, Choir Assistant & Operations Manager
Mae is a recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she studied Political Science and Music. She is passionate about social justice and believes deeply in the power of music as a transformative and unifying force. Mae has been an avid choral singer since adolescence and strives to create an inclusive and inspiring atmosphere for young singers in the Berkshires.