Heart of the Valley Summer Program Staff

Heart of the Valley Chorus, an affiliate of Sweet Adelines International, is an auditioned all treble voice a cappella choir that has been entertaining throughout the Connecticut River Valley for over 40 years. Their membership spans the Valley with members currently from Greenfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Easthampton, Hadley, South Hadley, Belchertown, Leeds, Florence, and Westhampton. Singing a variety of music — Jazz, Broadway, Contemporary and Inspirational, all in 4-part barbershop style — their performances remind us that music adds something special to our lives.

Heart of the Valley chorus is passionate about sharing their music with the community and ensuring inclusivity for their audiences. This summer program is aimed at engaging young singers to promote an early connection to the a cappella artform and barbershop origins.

Program staff includes experienced members of the Heart of the Valley Chorus including: Stephanie Flinker, a retired elementary educator; Denise Green, Westfield State University lecturer; Sarah Kinglet, high-school science teacher; Mollie Hartford-Chamberland, local parent; and Sally Carlton, retired school psychologist

We will be joined throughout the week by other area a cappella singers sharing their unique musical skills.

Program Director:

Stephanie Flinker is a retired elementary educator with over 25 years of classroom teaching experience and 35 years of a cappella barbershop singing experience. She directs Heart of the Valley Chorus and sings Baritone in the quartet Heartsong. She is a member of the Amherst Community Theater board and recently directed their January 2026 production of The Wizard of Oz with a cast of 60.