The Minstrels
Chris Devine
Chris Devine is an entertainer of diverse talents, performing on electric and acoustic violin, mandolin, guitar, flute, saxophone, keyboard and vocals, and as an actor and comic. Conservatory-trained as a violinist, as an all-around session musician he has appeared on hundreds of releases in many different styles of music, including classical, jazz, rock, pop, country, and ethnic. His compositions include three original musicals and his performances have been aired on Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and PBS. Chris toured Europe and Russia for some years in Blackmore's Night, as a featured soloist beside legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. In his theatrical career, he has portrayed many of the iconic roles of Shakespeare and of numerous contemporary dramas and comedies.
William Noland-Noland
After barely surviving graduate school and faking his way to a quasi-respectable career in the fire escape trade, William stumbled grandly back into music in 2004 with his own prog-rock outfit, Eccentric Orbit. In addition to torturing his fellow Minstrels with his often-questionable sense of humor, William also pretends to play bass and sing in the classic rock band, Brave Pursuit, pretends to pretend to play guitar in The Yasu Suzuki Method, and epitomizes the concept of “imposter syndrome” with his new Urban Fantasy book series, Uncommon Bonds.
Joe (Jopey) Fitzpatrick
Joe “Jopey” Fitzpatrick , classically trained as a percussionist, performs with numerous Massachusetts bands including Trailer Park, TJ and the Peepers, The Gaslight Tinkers, and Galvanizer. Known throughout as the first-call drummer and percussionist, Joe has worked with numerous other outfits including The Bombastics, Unit 7/The Eric Olsson Band, Ed Vadas, The Equalites, The Pangeans, and The Mary Jane Jones. Joe has played percussion for numerous musicals and in 2013 worked with the Tony Award winning team of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater (Spring Awakenings) on the musical “Arms On Fire”. You can find more information about Joe at www.jopey.com.
Ken Forfia
Ken Forfia studied Music Theory and Composition and earned a masters degree in piano performance at UMass Amherst. A recital pianist and accompanist who plays Brahms and Chopin from memory, he has also toured at length in the top-drawer rock world as keyboardist with noted alt-rocker Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers. Ken plays solo, chamber, and orchestral concerts as well as church music and, in recent years, as a jazz musician. He was appointed Professor in Visual and Performing Arts at Springfield Technical Community College in 1998.
Joe Boyle
A professional since his precociously talented preteen years, Joe is a universally respected and in-demand guitarist whose extensive international recording and touring career includes long stints with Monkee Peter Tork, the Aloha Steamtrain and the Oscar-winning Young At Heart Chorus.