Meet our directors!

Eric Halpin-Desmarais is a local to New England, originally from Manchester, New Hampshire. He holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire. While there, he had the privilege of studying clarinet under Dr. Elizabeth Gunlogson, the marching arts under Casey Goodwin, and conducting under Dr. Andrew Boysen Jr. 

Eric has been teaching music for over 10 years across schools in New Hampshire and Maine as a private instructor, lesson teacher, and marching arts instructor. While in New Hampshire, he worked with several middle school and elementary schools as a private music instructor to help foster musical performance in the younger grades. Eric has been a member of the University of New Hampshire Winter Guard staff coaching college indoor winter guard and the Biddeford High School Marching Band color guard instructor. Currently he works at Kennebunk High School as the band director and currently serves as one of the Sanford High School color guard instructors. 

In addition to teaching, Eric is a woodwind and color guard performer in New England. He has been a part of musical pits in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire as a woodwind player. In addition, he has performed with the Biddeford Alumni Band and Dover Community Band, and the Southern New Hampshire University Community Band. Throughout the year, he joins the University of New Hampshire Color Guard and performs in parades throughout New Hampshire, and is a member of the greater Boston Pride Color Guard. 

Jesse Myers-Wakeman is a Maine native, born and raised on Penobscot Bay in the blossoming coastal community of Belfast. He holds a Master's degree in choral conducting and a Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine and is an alumnus of the Berklee College of Music. He has had the privilege of working and studying with some of the greatest conductors, teachers, and directors in New England, including Dr. Robert Russell, Dr. Peter Martin, and Dr. Robert Lehmann. 

Jesse has been teaching voice for well over 15 years, focusing on healthy practices, sensitive artistry, and strong musicianship. He has worked at the collegiate level, with semi-professional musicians, high school singers, and those who simply wish to expand their experiences later in life. His teachings foster healthy tone production rooted in classical techniques, but can be applied to any and all styles of music, from opera to pop and everything in between. His students have gone on to pursue successful careers in performance, education, and composition.

As a vocalist, Jesse has been hailed for bringing his rich, powerful tone and sensitive interpretations to every performance. He has been a featured soloist with groups across northern New England, including the Portland Symphony Orchestra, OperaMaine, ChoralArt, Amethyst Chamber Ensemble, St. Mary's Schola, and various community groups, such as the White Mountain Musical Arts Bach Festival, and the Lincoln Festival Chorus.

In addition to performing and teaching, Jesse is the current Music Director for the Greater Freeport Community Chorus, a non-auditioned choir open to anyone who loves to sing, serves as organist at the North Yarmouth Congregational Church, and is also an active composer. His catalog includes works for choirs, chamber ensembles, and solo voices and instruments. His compositions have been performed in numerous venues, locally and internationally, including honors festivals, collegiate tours, and professional ensembles. Previously, Jesse served as one of the music directors for the Boy Singers of Maine, worked as the Chorus Master for the White Mountain Musical Arts annual Bach Festival, and as the Assistant Chorus Master for several OperaMaine productions.