About Us

For the past 35 years, Tony was  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 was 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.

 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 and jazz 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.

Paul Nguyen is excited to serve as a Co-Conductor for the Timberlane Community Music Association Concert Band!
 

Paul grew up in Oklahoma City City, OK and recently moved to New Hampshire to build a life with his wife, Madison. They got married in October 2024.
 

Music has been a significant part of Paul’s life since starting piano lessons from a very young age, joining band in middle school, and continuing in his musical journey as a performer and educator.
 

Outside of TCMA, Mr. Nguyen teaches music in the Nashua School District, previously teaching in Oklahoma City. He has also worked with the band programs at Londonderry HS and Timberlane HS. Additionally, he is the Executive Director of N&C Music and Leadership Staff Member of Texoma Marching Arts and Leadership Academy. He is a former Chief Operating Officer of Live Life Music OK and previously served as the Education Intern with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Education & Advocacy Intern with Music for All/Bands of America.
 

Paul graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Bachelor of Music Education in Instrumental Education (Summa Cum Laude, Cum Honore). Academic distinctions include the Letzeiser Bronze Medal, Outstanding Senior & Outstanding Music Education Student within the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, and Presser Undergraduate Scholar.
 

Professional memberships include NAfME, NHMEA, OBA, OkMEA, MTNA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

  Daniel Sherman is an active freelance musician and teacher across southern New England. He recently returned to his native Peabody, Massachusetts after spending the last few years as a doctoral student and teacher in Tucson, Arizona. Dan’s years as a trombone studio teaching assistant showed him the impact an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher can have on student success—a mentality he always strives to replicate in the classroom.

As a teaching philosophy, Dan views music lessons like a guided practice session; a place where we experiment with what helps us play our best, and where mistakes are always viewed as learning opportunities. He always is singing, counting, and conducting with his students to show how a defined musical concept is the key to success and love of music.

Dan also sees the importance of professional performing experience and playing consistency as the keys to lasting success in music. Throughout his time in Tucson, he was a sought-after performer in a variety of ensemble settings, having appeared with The Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Brass Quintet; the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra; the Marie Osmond Orchestra; and the Pete Swan Big Band. He currently performs regularly with the Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, as well as in schools and private venues throughout New England. 

Dan currently teaches individual and group instrumental lessons at Timberlane Regional School District; Wayland Public Schools; the Tri-Town School Union (MA) and Chelmsford Continuing Education. He recently completed his coursework for a D.M.A. in Trombone Performance from the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music. He also holds degrees from the University of Florida (M.M.), and Penn State (B.M.E. and Professional Performer’s Certificate). Dan attributes his recent success to his trombone teachers, including Prof. Michael Becker, Dr. Erik Shinn, and Prof. Mark Lusk.