Board of Directors

President: James Affleck,  Newfields, NH

Jim grew up in New Jersey and lived in Andover for 37 years before retiring to New Hampshire in 2018. He holds a BS in Economics  from St. Lawrence University and a MS in Accounting from SUNY Albany. Jim has served on the NECS board many times (as president twice) and was a singing member for 30 years.

Vice President: Matt Crawford, Peabody, MA

A North Shore native, Matt earned his BA in English and Theater from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where a love of words and performance first drew him to choral singing. He joined the New England Classical Singers in 2023 and quickly found a second home among colleagues who share his passion for expressive ensemble work. When Matt isn’t rehearsing Mozart or Magnificat, you’ll likely find him onstage with local theater companies across Greater Boston, lending the same storytelling instinct to dramatic roles. By day he designs enterprise-scale solutions as an IT architect, a career that satisfies his problem-solving side; by weekend he recharges on New England’s hiking trails. Matt is grateful for the chance to fuse art, community, and a bit of adventure with NECS each season.

Treasurer and Clerk:  Peter Ersland, Littleton, MA

Peter has B.A. and M.A., degrees in Physics, and has worked as a reliability engineer in the semiconductor industry since moving from Minnesota to Massachusetts in 1986. He joined NECS in 1996, and has served in a variety of Board positions, including a four year stint as president. In addition to the NECS board, Peter has held leadership positions with his church, and on a number of professional engineering boards and committees.

Recording Secretary: Diane Fagan Affleck, Newfields, NH

Diane grew up in upstate New York, earning her BA in English at St. Lawrence University and her MA in American Civilization at  George Washington University. Diane served as Curator of Textiles and later Director of Interpretation at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA, for more than 30 years. She joined NECS in 1991. After 37 years living in Andover she retired to New Hampshire in 2018.

Member-at-Large: Gail Miller Armondino, North Andover, MA

Gail grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Vassar College and earned her MA and Ph.D. in Historical Musicology from the Catholic University of America. She has worked at Carnegie Hall, The American Classical Orchestra, and currently has her own freelance business, Notes to Go, providing educational materials for all audiences. She is also the Mom to twin boys and three dogs. She lives in North Andover.

Member-at-Large: Mandi Edgerly, Methuen, MA

Mandi grew up in Andover, MA. She graduated from Northern Essex Community College where she earned her Associates in Accounting. She has worked in finance at World Travel Holdings for over 20 years where she is currently Accounting Manager. She has also served on the Parish Council at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Methuen where she sings in the choir and teaches Sunday school.  She sang with NECS in 2007 and 2008 and has been with the group consistently since 2019.

Member-at-Large: Leslie Benvenuti Ellard, Haverhill, MA

Leslie Benvenuti Ellard is from Haverhill, MA and graduated from Bradford College with a degree in Fine Arts. She has been with the chorus since 2012 and has served on the Board in a variety of roles. Her proudest accomplishments are her children and grandchildren.