Craig Hughes, President

I’m a tech strategy consultant helping non-profit clients use technology to run their organizations more efficiently. I’ve worked in tech all of my career, most recently with Google as a program management lead for their Cloud products. I also serve on a neighborhood association board in Boston and sing in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross Choir. I’ve been singing with the BBC since around 2000 enjoying every single concert. I’ve had a lot of fun helping the organization grow through volunteer and board work over the years, and I’m looking forward to the next chapter of growth of the chorale.

Brenda Ulrich, Secretary

Membership Committee

Henry Rea, Treasurer

Finance Committee

Rachel Burckardt

I am a civil engineer and project manager, working on a variety of infrastructure projects for state, local and private clients. Though not a singer in the BBC, I do sing with both the St. Cecilia Church and Cathedral of the Holy Cross choirs, and also am an instrumentalist at St. Cecilia’s. My other musical pursuits include being a composer (sacred and concert music), recording artist/producer, and organizer of musical events. This is my first year on the BBC Board.

Jim Farmer

Strategic Planning Committee
Music Director Search Committee

I’m a retired federal prosecutor and lifelong music lover. I have been a longtime choral singer (Harvard University Choir, Choir of Church of the Ascension in New York City, Handel and Haydn Society) and supporter of choral activities, as well as a serious avocational organist. For many years, I served as Secretary, then Vice President of the Board of the Handel and Haydn Society, and for more than a decade I led the Harvard University Choir alumni organization, on the Board of which I continue to serve. On the BBC Board, I serve (or have served) as Chair of the Music Director Search Committee, Chair of the Executive Director Search Committee, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and of the Strategic Planning Action Committee, and as a member of the Finance Committee and the Support and Evaluation Committee. I’m honored and delighted to be affiliated with the BBC at this exciting time in its history.

Vincent James

I have been a choral singer since 1974 when I sang with the MIT Glee Club and Choral Society under John Oliver. I am semi-retired doing consulting work related to undergraduate and graduate admissions. (I served as Associate Director of Admissions at MIT from 1991–2000 and Director of Admissions at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health from 2000–2020.) Although I do not sing with BBC, I have sung with a number of choral groups in the area including Masterworks Chorale, Spectrum Singers, Harvard Radcliffe Chorus, and Berkshire Choral International. I have also served on the board for the Greater Boston Choral Consortium, Choral Arts New England, and the Boston Singers Resource. I look forward to contributing as a BBC board member.

Dottie Pitt

Fundraising Committee

I am a retired elementary school teacher and administrator. Chorus and/or choir have played a major part throughout my life. I served on 3 chorus boards as well as the board of Choral Arts New England. As a habitual “joiner” I have been active on BBC chorus committees. This is my 19th year in the S1 section of BBC.

Abby Reichlin

Leadership Committee

I practiced law for almost 49 years and am now happily retired, spending my time traveling, cooking, reading, sailing, and of course singing. I can’t remember a time when I was not singing in some chorus, and I’ve been a member of the Chorale since 1989, a struggling tenor for the first 20 years and thankfully now a happier, if less valuable, baritone.I was a member of the Nominating Committee (now the Leadership Committee) for several years before joining the Board, and I now chair that Committee.

Polly Scannell

Finance Committee
Support & Evaluation Committee

I am a labor attorney and have been in the Office of Labor and Employee Relations at Harvard University since 2000.I have been a member of BBC since 1994, led by four of its musical directors and through many years of rich, vibrant, and wonderful singing.The Chorale has been a musical and a personal mainstay for me for many years.These last few years in the shadow of the pandemic have brought into sharp focus just how much the Chorale means to me, and how important it is as a musical organization.On the Board I am part of the Finance Committee and Support & Evaluation Committee, and participated in the Executive Director search process.

Nicole Werther

I have been a choral singer since childhood and have been a member of the Back Bay Chorale soprano section since 2007. When I lived in San Diego a former BBC director guest conducted the San Diego Master Chorale, of which I was a member. At that moment I decided that if I ever moved back to Boston, The Back Bay Chorale was the choir I'd want to sing with. The high level of musicianship and the many close friends I've made have kept me singing with this choir for so long. While a member, I have served on multiple committees and I have also chaired and co-chaired our fundraising gala. When I'm not singing I am creating art with children as the co-owner of a local small business children's art studio. I'm also the proud parent of two amazing kids, who are both singers and violin players.

Wayne Wilkins

Marketing, Technology & Earned Income Committee

I am a marketing creative director, and have been the Director of Brand & Content for The Trustees of Reservations for the last 8 years. Prior to that, I was the Director of Marketing for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School, and was previously at RISD and MTV Networks (MTV/VH1/Nickelodeon) for many years. I joined the Back Bay Chorale in 2017, when my job moved me to Boston. Having sung in many choruses over the years, I was most recently with the Providence Singers for 15 years, where I also served two terms on their board. A former baritone, age has expanded my low range and I am a proud B2 (unless there’s one of those rare and delicious B3 parts available.) Making music and making friends with all of the talented members of the BBC brings me great joy!