UVMC Faculty

Tom Bourgault -  Conductor
Tom Bourgault holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music and Music Education from the University of New Hampshire.  His studies focused in conducting and composition.  Tom also works as Director of Instrumental Instruction at Lebanon High School.  He is also a published composer.

Margaret Gilmore - Suzuki Cello Instructor
Dr. Margaret Gilmore has played professionally in Europe and in the U.S. in solo recitals, chamber music and in many orchestras. She has taught in universities and in public and private schools and is also a registered Suzuki cello teacher as well as traditional. Her early training was at the Juilliard School with subsequent training at the Muziek Lyceum in Amsterdam and has degrees from LSU, Rice University and the University of Arizona. She currently performs with the Arizona Opera Orchestra, the Sterling String Quartet and the Presidio Cello Quartet."

Carol Hartman, Piano Accompanist for Choral Groups

Susan Kinne -  Winds-in-School Instructor
Bachelor of Music in Applied Clarinet from the University of Colorado, graduate work at University of New Hampshire, and additional study at the Vienna and New England Conservatories. She has performed with the Tonkunstler Orchestra and Stadtpark Orchestra in Vienna, the NH Philharmonic and Boston’s Mandala Folk Dance Ensemble. In addition to Winds-in-Schools, she teaches at St. Paul’s School, and at her private studio.

Becky Luce - Choral Director
Becky Luce has taught general, vocal, and instrumental music in the Upper Valley since 1976. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Keene State College and is currently the general and vocal music teacher for the Ray School in Hanover. Becky is co-founder and past conductor of the Lebanon Community Chorus.

Joanna Nelson
Joanna has recently moved to Hanover from Connecticut where she taught Suzuki violin/viola at the Bethwood Suzuki School and worked as a choral director.  She holds a bachelors in music from St. Olaf College.  Joanna is also teaching in Kersarge and holds a studio of private students.

Michael Parker—Winds-in-School Instructor
Born and raised in Westerly, Rhode Island, Michael Parker has been playing saxophone for over twenty years. He received a B.A. in Music Performance/Sound Recording Technology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While in Pittsburgh, Mike gained experience as a free-lance jazz musician perfoming with many great artists such as Herbie Hancock, Mike Stern, Gary Burton, Dave Liebman, and Louie Bellson. He has also professionally played many different genres of music, including classical, jazz, R&B, rock, Top 40, polka, and wedding bands. Mike began teaching private music lessons for schools and music stores in the Pittsburgh area, and continued to do so when he returned to New England in 1998. Michael considers himself very fortunate to be able to do what he loves for a living, and is thankful for those who enable him to do so.

Mr. Nobuaki Tanaka, Suzuki Program Director
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance and Music Education from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis on Suzuki pedagogy; Masters in Music Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from East Carolina University. Aki is a registered Suzuki teacher in Book 1 though Book 10. He has studied Suzuki pedagogy with Louise Scott, Karin Hallberg, and Joanne Bath, and has studied violin with Hana Aoto, Hal Grossman, Louise Scott, Victor Liva and Ara Gregorian.

Alissa Vassileva - Suzuki Violin Instructor
High school diploma from the "Dobrin Petkov" Music High School in Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Bachelor in Violin Performance from the Atlantic Union College, MA and a Master in Violin Performance with emphasis in String Pedagogy from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. There she studied with Virginia Gene-Rittenhouse, Mary-Lou Churchill, and Sophie Vilker. She has been teaching violin at the Atlantic Union College and also maintaining a private Suzuki Studio.

Judy Wild - Strings-in-School Instructor
Judy Wild moved to New Hampshire from England in 2000. She holds a teaching diploma in violin from the Royal College of Music, London, and in piano teaching from the Birmingham Conservatoire. Judy has taught children of all ages both privately and in schools.