Nicole Oriol
Music Director
Nicole grew up in Holden, Massachusetts and has been singing in choirs her whole life. Inspired by her very musical mother, Nicole knew from a young age that she wanted to become a music teacher and eventually enrolled at The University of Rhode Island as a music education major. Her primary instrument was voice and she studied vocal performance under Margaret Frazier. After student teaching at Agnes Little Elementary in Pawtucket and Middletown High School, she graduated from URI with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.
After college, Nicole moved to Tiverton to start teaching at Wilbur & McMahon School in Little Compton where she has been teaching for ten years. She has been teaching choir at the 4th-6th grade level, and elementary general music. She also leads the theater department, producing and directing the school’s musicals including Seussical, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Willy Wonka, Matilda, and Shrek.
Julie Poepping
Collaborative Pianist
Julie is from the Midwest and recently relocated to Rhode Island to be closer to family. She began piano lessons in second grade, which led to playing solos for school functions and accompanying choirs and theater productions. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano pedagogy from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. Over the years, her piano roles have included accompanying choirs, ensembles, soloists, and principal roles with orchestras for high schools, colleges, and churches. She has also provided solo piano background music for restaurants and wedding receptions. Julie is looking forward to accompanying for GTCC!