Board Members
Singers of Summerville is a volunteer community chorus and is managed by chorus members and supporters who apply their business and artistic skills as Board members. For twenty years, the Board has strived to present the very best sacred and secular music from the past to the present, to bring joy, transform lives and nourish the soul of the greater Summerville community.
The organization is governed by By-Laws that are modified as necessary to keep us relevant and efficiently functional. The entire chorus membership lends its support for fundraising, ticket sales, and event promotion.
Lisa Davol Spires, President
Lisa is a long-time member of the Singers of Summerville and President of the Board of Directors. Choral music has been an important part of her life since 5th grade when she began singing in the South Middle School Chorus back in her hometown of Somerset, Massachusetts, nicknamed “Musictown.” It was the first time she got to experience that collaborative spirit of blending her voice with others in a performance and she loved it! Lisa went on to sing in various high school ensembles, her church folk group, and a high school musical. She joined her first community choir, the Somerset Chorale, directed by Bruce Maggs, and then when that group disbanded, Lisa sought out the North Tiverton Community Choir. When she moved to South Carolina, she found the Singers of Summerville under then director, Dr. Valerie Bullock.
Currently Lisa also sings in the Women’s Choir, Chamber Ensemble and Chancel Choir at Bethany United Methodist Church with director Rob Taylor and the Jewel Tones at Summerville Presbyterian Church with director William Bennett. Lisa thanks all of her choir directors that have molded and shaped her into the singer she is today, and her dad, Robert Leonardo, for sharing his love of music with her.
“There is nothing like lifting your voice in song with others and creating something even more beautiful and powerful than you, yourself could create. It’s inspirational…healing…empowering and transformative. It’s choral music.”
Sharon Napoleone, First Vice President, Marketing and Publicity
Sharon is a first alto in her third year singing with the Singers of Summerville. A retired marketing communications professional, she and her husband Vinny moved to Summerville in 2020 from Shelton, Connecticut to be close to their grandson.
Singing since the age of ten in her church choirs, Sharon’s love for singing deepened after beginning to study voice with a private voice teacher, who she studied with for over 15 years. Sharon was 1st alto and 2nd soprano in the Newtown Choral Society and the Waterbury Chorale and has performed in several fundraising concerts for her CT church (Newtown Congregational Church). She was even a lead singer in a rock and roll cover band!
She is currently a soloist for weddings, funerals, and other special occasions. Now retired from the corporate world and enjoying low country life in SC, she also sings in the choir at Summerville Presbyterian Church and spends summers in New Hampshire camping on a lake.
Diane Rodwell, Second Vice President, Fundraising
Diane Rodwell is a self-described cheerleader for Summerville, especially for the Performing Arts. Her passion is ensuring that all people have the opportunity to grow their personal artistic strengths – whether in music, visual or theatric arts – regardless of age or occupation.
With a Doctorate of Music in Voice Performance, this contralto taught voice and opera theatre at the university level before falling into marketing and advertising. After more than 25 years in global marketing, while continuing to sing professionally, she and her husband moved to Summerville and Diane officially retired. She joined Singers of Summerville in 2013, and sings in several ensembles at Bethany Methodist Church.
Diane’s job now is to stay fit, vigorously maintain her vocal abilities through the aging process, and work to support the arts in Summerville – ensuring that businesses and individuals benefit from our vibrant arts scene.
Greg Spires, Treasurer
From a short start with Piano, to many years playing trumpet and then to singing, Greg has always loved music. And music has led to very special experiences across much of Europe and at many US venues.
When not singing or learning the many musical instruments that he has acquired, you might find him on a motorcycle or tearing into something mechanical or enjoying a relaxing blue water beach. In 2022, Greg retired from a career in Information Technology and he has always thought it was interesting that when the Army first needed programmers, they went and got musicians from their band.
Barbara Dobbs, Secretary
Barbara and her husband relocated to Summerville seven years ago and one of the first things she wanted to do was find a chorale group to join. She has been affiliated with singing groups everywhere she has lived and find it’s one of her strongest passions. This is her 4th year with Singers of Summerville and she’s thrilled to be singing with this talented group of musicians as a 1st Alto. She is also blessed to sing with the Bethany United Methodist Church choirs. “Music will always live in my soul.”
Jonathan Case, Librarian
Andi Stem, Member At Large
Andi Stem started singing in the backseat when she was two years old, and continues to harmonize with every song she hears. Andi sang with children’s and youth choirs throughout her childhood in Charlotte, NC, and sang for an a cappella women’s ensemble through college. After getting married to an Air Force guy, Andi sang in community choruses in six states.
In 2003, Andi and Eric moved with their three kids to Summerville where Andi joined the Singers of Summerville and served on the board. Due to the demands of life and motherhood, Andi stepped back from Singers, but started a women’s ensemble called The Jewel Tones in 2010. Now that her kids are grown, Andi serves as an at-large member of the board, yet still sings loud in the car!