Band Directors Form State Organization 

Sunday, September 18, marked the organization of the New Hampshire Band Directors Association, a professional group for band directors from all levels of public education as well as from the state’s colleges and universities, community bands and military bands. Those attending this meeting at Plymouth State College elected an Executive Board consisting of the following:

President - Dr. Gary Corcoran (Plymouth State College)
President-Elect - David Bresnahan (Manchester Central High School)
Recording Secretary - John Beyrent (Gilford Middle High School)
Membership Chairman - Amy Golden (Stevens High School)

Brynn Belyea of Manchester was appointed as NHBDA’s Executive Secretary as were the following district representatives:

Southeast District - Tony DiBartolomeo (Timberlane Regional HS)
South Central District - Mike Adams (Manchester Schools)
Southwest District - Bob Cunniff (Fall Mountain Regional HS)
Lakes Region District - Kenda Corcoran (Newfound Regional HS)
Northern District - Gary Rothe (Berlin HS)

The following are excerpts from remarks made by Gary Corcoran:

Thanks so much to those of you who came today—it was an act of faith on your part. I have heard from a number of people in the last two weeks, both public school and college band directors who knew that they could not be here today, but who wanted to express their support for the founding of NHBDA, including some of those whose names may be put into nomination for positions on the Executive Board.

It seemed fitting that the founding of a professional association required a formal meeting of some kind and an explanation and a description of what may turn out to be “NHBDA.” NHBDA will be “up and running” at the end of today’s meeting.

As I mentioned in the letter that you all received, I was asked by several people in the state to take the first steps to help establish NHBDA—most recently by Dave Bresnahan and John Beyrent who were both instrumental in putting together the plans for today’s meeting.

As many of you know, I was a university band director in Kansas for 18 years, from 1972-90. It was during that time that the Kansas Bandmasters Association was formed. I served for 10 years on the Executive Board of that association, first as Assistant Chairman of the Intercollegiate Band…

When I came to NH, I inquired as to whether or not New Hampshire has a band director’s association, some people said “That would be great. We really need something like that.” Others said, “Nothing like that would ever go over in this state.”

Why is there a need for NHBDA? Some of you may have come here with reasons of your own, but here 4:

• Camraderie—comes from sharing ideas/problems etc.

• Education/Professional Growth Clinics—younger directors being helped by older ones

• To promote discussion of the standards of excellence to which the bands in our state might aspire

• Cohesion—an opportunity to address the needs of bands and band directors—a group to which NH band directors to feel connected because it will be specifically addressing the needs of band directors within our state

KBA was—and is—a superb organization. It was a positive force which supported public school, college/university and community bands in the state. For Kenda and me, attending the KBA convention each summer was something we always looked forward to. We always came away from that convention with a very good feeling about our colleagues within the state. At their best, band directors are a “roll up your sleeves and get the job done” type of group, free—for the most part—from the pretense and sense of self-importance that characterizes too many so-called associations.

In the final analysis, it will not be up to me to define NHBDA. That will be done by the Executive Board you elect today and by the association itself as it develops its own identity. Because we have other models from which to draw, the initial tasks in our formation will not be as formidable as they may seem at the moment. We won’t be creating something out of nothing. I have the fullest confidence in our ability to make this beginning. (We already have a prototype constitution adapted from the Kansas model that we can discuss, change, and submit to the membership in July). Our biggest challenge will be to maintain the necessary momentum to sustain the association through its first two years. Once again, I am confident in our ability to do this.

Let me try to express first what I think that NHBDA will not be:

• NHBDA will not be an association that one belongs to in place of NHMEA…In fact, more likely, it will become a voice through which band directors can more clearly articulate their needs to the leadership of NHMEA

• NHBDA will not be an association which favors one type of school (large school/small school) or one type of program (those with marching bands/those without; those with jazz bands/those without) etc. NHBDA will also not take the place of IAJE.

• NHBDA will not be an association that requires much of a time commitment. I doubt that there will be any more meetings quite like this one today, where you get in your car and come to a brief meeting of the association itself and then turn around and go home. More likely, business meetings will occur during the summer at a conference intended for our members.

It is my hope that the New Hampshire Band Directors Association (or whatever name the group may later adopt) will be a means to brings us together and encourages the type of interaction that will strengthen our bands at all levels.

I hope that it will provide us with the forum for working out solutions to problems associated with common activities ranging from All-State Auditions and Large Group Festival to the excessive demands made on some programs by athletically-related service performances.

I hope that NHBDA will be a means of helping along our younger teachers and acknowledging the contributions of our veteran teachers and others as well.

I hope that NHBDA will use opinionnaires to sound out the membership on important issues that face the state and to determine the types of clinics and activities that will most benefit the bands and band directors in New Hampshire.

I hope that those who accept positions on the Executive Board will so with a sense of service to their colleagues and a desire to help others—as well as themselves—be more informed and to be more creative in their teaching.

There is much more that NHBDA can be—and will be—once the wheels start turning. Those who get actively involved will play a role in shaping the future of the organization. I hope that at some point along the way, each person here will get to experience the satisfaction that comes from being of service to others in the profession and that you will do so as a member of the New Hampshire Band Directors Association.

NHBDA Honors - Outstanding Directors 

Domenic Pallaria and Kasey Grisham were recipients of annual awards presented by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association at an awards dinner held during NHBDA’s 1996 convention held July 11-13 on the campus of Plymouth State College.

David Bresnahan, NHBDA President, announced the names of the recipients of the “Outstanding Band Director Award” and the “Outstanding Young Band Director Award.” Both presentations were made by Douglas Nelson, Chair of the Department of Music at Keene State College, who has had an ongoing professional as well as personal relationship with these individuals.

Domenic Pallaria, NHBDA’s 1996 “Outstanding Band Director,” has been the band director at the White Mountains Regional School District for the past 25 years and has been consistently successful in producing fine performing groups over those years. The  White Mountains Regional School has performed for two U. S. Presidents and was selected in 1994 to represent the State of New Hampshire in Washington, D. C. at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Veterans of World War II. He has been active throughout most of his career as a guest conductor and clinician, and he served for five years as Director on the NHMEA Executive Board.

The “Outstanding Young Band Director,” Kasey Grisham of Littleton High School, is a 1992 graduate of Keene State College. Prior to accepting her position in Littleton, Mrs. Grisham taught for two years at Plymouth Regional High School. Kasey is also the coordinator of the Jr. High Northern District Music Festival. The “Outstanding Young Band Director Award” is given each year to a music educator who has demonstrated outstanding growth and achievement within the first seven years of full-time teaching and who promises to have a notably successful career in music education.

James Chesebrough and Brynn Belyea were recipients of annual awards presented by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association at an awards dinner held during the 1998 New England Band Directors Institute held July 9-11 on the campus of Plymouth State College.

Anthony DiBartolomeo, NHBDA President, announced the names of the recipients of the “Outstanding Band Director Award” and the “Outstanding Young Band Director Award.” Members on the recipients’ families were on hand as the presentations were made by President DiBartolomeo and past president Dr. Gary Corcoran, NEBDI Coordinator.

James Chesebrough is Band Director for the Lin-Wood Public Schools in Lincoln, and he is adjunct instructor of Low Brass at Plymouth State College. In 1995-96, Mr. Chesebrough was assistant conductor of the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble. A graduate of Norwood High School in Norwood, MA, he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, and the Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Connecticut. He has taught public school music in Ohio and New Hampshire for over twenty years. Mr. Chesebrough has studied conducting with Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw, Dr. Peter Bagley, Dr. Rodney Winther, and Carl St. Claire. Other professional experiences include adjudicating state auditions, performing as guest conductor at numerous regional music festivals, and serving on the New Hampshire Music Educators Executive Board as Junior High Festival Chairperson and as State President.

The “Outstanding Young Band Director,” Brynn Belyea of Manchester Memorial High School, is a  graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Now in his fourth year at Memorial, Mr. Belyea earlier taught at Gossler and Northwest Elementary as well as at Parkside Junior High School. The Memorial High School Music Department has hosted two consecutive Large Group Festivals as well as the NHBDA Chamber Music Festival. Brynn serves as Executive Secretary of NHBDA. The “Outstanding Young Band Director Award” is given each year to a music educator who has demonstrated outstanding growth and achievement within the first seven years of full-time teaching and who promises to have a notably successful career in music education.

David Bresnahan and Jason Caron were recipients of annual awards presented by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association at an awards dinner held during the 1999 New England Band Directors Institute held July 8-10 on the campus of Plymouth State College.

Anthony DiBartolomeo, NHBDA President, announced the names of the recipients of the “Outstanding Band Director Award” and the “Outstanding Young Band Director Award.” Members on the recipients’ families were on hand as the presentations were made by President-Elect Gary Rothe and past president Dr. Gary Corcoran, NEBDI Coordinator.

Dave Bresnahan, recipient of the “Outstanding Band Director Award,” is in his 26th year as a music educator. Twenty three of those years have been in the Manchester Public Schools. He also spent two years as the Instrumental Music Instructor at Crown Point Jr.-Sr., High School, in Crown Point, New Mexico. Now the Band Director at Memorial High School, Dave taught for nine years at Hillside Junior High and then for eleven years at Central High. In 1995, Dave was chosen to receive the "Governor's Award for Excellence in Arts Education." He is active in  both the New Hampshire Music Educators Association and the New Hampshire Band Directors Association. He is a Past President of NHBDA and is currently a Director with the NHMEA Executive Board. He has also served as Large Group Chairman for NHMEA.

Tony DiBartolomeo and Glen D’Eon were recipients of annual awards presented by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association at an awards dinner held during the 2000 New England Band Directors Institute held July 13-15 on the campus of Plymouth State College.

Gary Rothe, NHBDA President, made the award presentations to the recipients of the “Outstanding Band Director Award” and the “Outstanding Young Band Director Award.” Members on the recipients’ families were on hand for the presentations along with 50 other guests including guest speakers Dr. H. Robert Reynolds (University of Michigan) and Dr. Timothy Mahr (St. Olaf College).

Tony DiBartolomeo, recipient of the “Outstanding Band Director Award,” is the Director of Music for the Timberlane Schools in Plaistow, where he conducts the instrumental program. He received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Massachusetts, and the Master of Music from the University of Houston. He has taught high school in Texas and New Hampshire and was Director of Bands and Chairman of the Department of Music at Ashland College, Ashland, Ohio. Additionally, he was Assistant Director of Bands at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. He has studied conducting with Dr. John Jenkins, Craig Kirchhoff, James Matthews and William Revelli. He is Past President of the New Hampshire Band Directors Association. Tony is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference, New Hampshire Music Educators Association, National Band Association, and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

Dr. Gary Corcoran and Andrew Lalos were recipients of annual awards presented by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association at an awards dinner held during the10th Annual New England Band Directors Institute held July 11-13 on the campus of Plymouth State College.

David Tromba, NHBDA President, announced the names of the recipients of the “Outstanding Band Director Award” and the “Outstanding Young Band Director Award.” Members on the recipients’ families were on hand as the presentations were made by NHBDA Board members Douglas Nelson (Keene State College) and Tim Russell (Manchester Central High School).

Dr. Gary Corcoran, recipient of the “Outstanding Band Director Award,” is in his 35th year as a music educator. Having taught in the public schools of Maine and Massachusetts, he served as the Director of Bands at Pittsburg State University (KS) from 1972 – 1990. He has been Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Plymouth State College since 1991.  Dr. Corcoran has served as President of the New Hampshire Band Directors Association, President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, President of the Eastern Division of the College Band Directors National Association, and Chairman of the Eastern Division of the National Band Association. He was the founding editor of the CBDNA Report, an international publication for college band directors. In 1990, Dr. Corcoran was also the recipient of the “Outstanding Band Director Award” presented by the Kansas Bandmasters Association.

The “Outstanding Young Band Director,” Andy Lalos, grew up in Manchester, NH where he graduated from Central High School in 1995. He received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2000. Andy teaches in Hooksett, where he is responsible for instrumental music in grades 4 - 8 and 8th grade general music. He is also the Drum Line Instructor for the Central High School Marching Band and teaches Percussion at the Summer Youth Music School held at UNH during the summer.