A Message from Co-Presidents Kathleen McGuirk & Tony DiBartolomeo

 

A vision that began percolating for quite some time in the mind of our founder is coming to fruition this year.  We are proud to announce the creation of a Timberlane adult music association, the Timberlane Community Music Association, (TCMA). What began as a very small group of concert band musicians and music supporters in 1999 developed into the Timberlane Community Band. In the mid 2000s the Timberlane Jazz Band was created, and this group has grown in talent under the guidance of Nick Mainella. The jazz band has performed around the region to the pleasure of many an audience.

 

About five years ago, John Zevos (our highly respected and talented educator and performer in guitar, mandolin, bass, dobro, lap steel, banjo, and ukulele) created the Timberlane Guitar Orchestra.

 

Two years ago, we were fortunate enough to add Rob Finch, Timberlane choral director, to our community. Rob has been an energetic force of nature, reviving our Timberlane Community Chorus ensemble to its present state. He is beloved by his group for his humor, attention to detail, and high standards. Figuratively speaking, the ‘house’ is too small for our family now! The new TCMA will be a big enough for all of us to grow and add more members throughout the coming years.

 

Conductor & Founder, Timberlane Community Concert Band - Anthony DiBartolomeo

 

For the past 35 years, Tony has been the Director of Music for the Timberlane Regional School District in Plaistow, NH as well as the Director of the Timberlane Performing Arts Center. He is the founder and co-director of the Timberlane Community Band. Past teaching positions have included Band Director and Instructor of Saxophone at Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; Chairperson and Instrumental Director at Ashland University (OH) and Band Director at the J. Frank Dobie High School, Pasadena, Texas.

 

Tony received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and a Master Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Houston. Tony was a conducting student of William Revelli, University of Michigan, and Craig Kirckkoff, Ohio State University. Tony is the founder and current Chairperson of the New Hampshire Band Directors/New Hampshire Music Educators All State Chamber Music Festival. He is the past President of the New Hampshire Band Directors Association and a past member of the New Hampshire Music Educators Executive Board where he served as All State Audition Chairperson for twenty years. In 2000, Tony was honored by the New Hampshire Band Directors Association and was selected the Outstanding Band Director of the Year. In April of 2013, Tony was awarded the New Hampshire Music Educator of the Year Award by the New Hampshire Music Educators Association.

 

Tony was the Executive Director of the New England Ambassadors of Music and toured Europe with nearly 500 New England students and directors in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

 

He makes his home in Methuen, Massachusetts with his wife Eileen. He has three children, a daughter Angela, a Doctoral Student at the Boston University.  Andrew, a live action stunt man at Universal Studios Los Angeles, and son Anthony who is the Technical Director at The Timberlane Performing Arts Center.

 

Conductor, Timberlane Community Jazz Band - John Mainella

John Mainella is one of the esteemed conductors of the Timberlane Community Band , as well as the Director of the Pollard Elementary and Sandown Central School Bands.

 

He began his career at Timberlane in 1979 and has held several teaching positions in the Middle School in addition to that of Band Director. John received his Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music in 1976 and also has a MM in School Administration from Rivier College.

 

John says he really enjoys working with adult musicians in the Community Band because it allows for a change in teaching style after working with Middle School students every day. He maintains that one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching in the same district for 34 years is that he begins to see Middle School musicians whose parent or parents were his students when they were in Middle School! He thinks it is great to see that musical influence carry through different generations.

John resides in Plaistow, New Hampshire, with his wife Trisha and their two sons – Nick, who has his MM in Jazz Performance on saxophone from Western Michigan University and Colin, who has his Bachelor degree in trumpet performance from SUNY.

 

Conductor, Timberlane Community Concert Band - Gilbert Lapointe

 

Currently the Band director at Lynn English High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, Gil has been a music educator in various Massachusetts public schools since 1993.  During this time Gil has devoted himself to providing the highest quality of music education possible for his students.  Gil has played woodwind instruments, primarily saxophone and clarinet for over 45 years.

 

Gil earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell in 1992 as well as a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University in 2004.

 

Gil is originally from Pawtucket, RI and now resides in Methuen, MA where he lives with his wife Tina who is also a Music Educator and shares his passion for music.

Conductor, Timberlane Community Guitar Orchestra - Dan Lorenz

Dan Lorenz teaches middle and high school music classes specializing in Guitar with 6 other music faculty at the Secondary level. In 2019, he graduated from University of New Hampshire (UNH) with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education specializing in Jazz Guitar. While an undergrad, Dan attended Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), a summer youth program for distinguished high school classical musicians from around the world.

 

The Community Guitar Orchestra is not meeting at this time, please check back for information in 2023.

Conductor, Timberlane Community Chorus - Robert Finch

Robert Finch was born and raised a Maine-ah. After growing up in Wells. He attended the University of Maine (B.M.E 2006). He also has a Masters of Music Education from Gordon College. Robert joined the faculty at Timberlane in 2017 where he teaches choir (6th -12th grade). Prior to Timberlane, he spent 9 years as a music educator in Dover Middle School.

 

In addition to teaching, Robert is an active conductor and performer in the New England region. Past conducting experience includes: The instrumental chorus at The UNH Jr. SYMS camp, honors festivals which include Vermont District 6, NH Lakes Region and Maine districts 1,2,3 and 6 as well as being the assistant conductor of the Seacoast Community Chorus, York, ME (2014-17). Past performance experience: Seacoast Community Chorus, Portsmouth Pro Musica, Portland Community Choir, Community Choir of South Berwick and Dover 4th Street Jazz and was in the choir for Ogunquit Playhouse’ production of, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (2016).

 

The Timberlane Community Chorus is not meeting at this time, please check back for information in 2023.