Rick Cook
Director of Music
Rick Cook was appointed full-time music lecturer at Southern New Hampshire University in the fall of 2008. During his short time at SNHU, the performing music program has grown from one ensemble to 11 and academic offerings have increased from one music appreciation course to a music minor and a music education major. Cook has taught music history, music theory, jazz combo, concert band, orchestra, brass choir, rock band, concert chorus and chamber choir at SNHU.
Cook is ABD from a Ph.D. in instrumental conducting/music education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he studied with Dr. Frank Battisti, one of the world’s leading experts in wind conducting. As a doctoral assistant, Cook served as an assistant conductor for the UMass Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, Concert Band and Marching Band, and observed student teachers. In 2005, he completed a master’s degree in wind conducting/music education at the University of New Hampshire, studying conducting/composition primarily with Dr. Andrew Boysen Jr. He did undergraduate work at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., where he studied conducting/composition with Dr. Timothy Mahr. Cook grew up off North Union Street, just up the road from SNHU, and attended Manchester Central High School, where he studied music with David Bresnahan.
Cook has written compositions performed by various performing ensembles throughout New England, including the UMass Symphony Band, the Manchester Central High School Wind Ensemble, the Manchester Memorial High School Orchestra, the Winnecunnet High School Band, various ensembles at the University of New Hampshire and the Never’s Second Regiment Band.
As a trumpet player, he has performed with Clark Terry, Ingrid Jensen, Paquito D’Rivera, Dave Ballou and Dan Nolan. He serves as the trumpet section leader for the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast.
Prior to graduate school, Cook taught band, orchestra, chorus and general music to students (grades three through 12) in the New Hampshire public schools. He lives in Sandown, N.H., with his wife, Kim, a music teacher in the Timberlane school district, and his two cats.
David Bresnahan
Southern New Hampshire Community Band
David Bresnahan is a native of Manchester, N.H. He is a graduate of Plymouth State College and recently retired from public school teaching after 35 years. He has taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels. His subject areas have included: general music, choral music and instrumental music. He is past president and a founding member of the New Hampshire Band Directors Association and a former director on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Music Educators Association.
Bresnahan received the 1995 NH Governor’s Award for Arts in Education, the 1999 NHBDA Outstanding Band Director Award and the "One of the Fifty Most Influential Music Educators In America Award” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He was a recipient of the city of Manchester’s Excellence in Education award in 2000. In 2002, he received the John R. McLane, Jr. Arts Award for leadership in the performing arts. Bresnahan was chosen as the Distinguished Music Educator of the Year- 2003 by the New Hampshire Music Educators Association and he received the 2003 NH Excellence in Education Award ("Edie").
His bands have consistently received “A” ratings in the NHMEA Large Group Festival and “Superior” ratings in national competition. However, his greatest sense of accomplishment comes from watching the progress of his past students, many of whom are currently teaching music in New England.
David Brien
Southern New Hampshire Community Orchestra
David Brien is in his 11th year teaching in the Manchester School District and is director of band and orchestra at Manchester Memorial High School. He is NHMEA All-State Orchestra chairperson and serves on the faculty at the Summer Youth Music School, directing the Junior Session Orchestra as well as various other brass and string classes.
Brien is a native of Manchester and 1999 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is the 2007 recipient of the NHBDA Outstanding Young Band Director Award.
He resides in Hillsborough, N.H., with his wife, Dana, and their two children, Barbara and Marshall.