DIRECTOR BIOS
Mrs. Helen Chagnon - Room 101
Mrs. Chagnon grew up in Salem, NH. She was a member of her elementary choruses, the Woodbury Jr. High School Chorus, Salem High School Chorus, and the Salem High School Concert and Marching Bands, where she played mallets and marched cymbals and trumpet. Private piano and voice lessons, her parents' love of music, and other music classes fostered her love of and commitment to music in general. She is grateful to her parents for encouraging her musical endeavors, and is indebted to her mentor, SHS high school band director and music teacher, Mr. Marty Claussen, for being a positive role model and her reason for choosing Music Education as a career. Mrs. Chagnon went on to get her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts with a minor in Performing Arts and a specialization in Music (Voice) at Bradford College. She earned her Master's Degree at Southern New Hampshire University in January of 2016. She was a proud member of the Bradford-Pentucket Chorale and the Stage Fright Improvisational Group in college; music and theatre were her passions at Bradford, where she performed in countless concerts, recitals, festivals, ensembles, stage productions, and musical pit orchestras. She began her teaching career in Lawrence, MA, went on to teach for four years in North Andover, MA where she also created and implemented their Choral curriculum, then finally came to Southside in 2003. She's taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Chorus, Select Choir, and 6th, 7th, and 8th grade General Music. Mrs. Chagnon is a leader within the UA Department - she runs the UA PLC meetings here at Southside with Ms. Lazzar. She is also the UA Scheduling Coordinator.
In the little spare time she has, Mrs. Chagnon enjoys singing and playing for special events, reading, working out, and even works a part-time job! Her favorite color is yellow, her birthday is September 8th, and she loves to watch 'Bob's Burgers' and reruns of 'Law and Order.' She tries very hard to be fair, kind, and encouraging to all of her students, and wants nothing but the best for each and every one! Respect, common courtesy, and a safe space are mandatory requirements in her classroom. All are welcome and are valued in her presence. Her door is always open, so come on by to practice, get extra help, or just chat!
Mr. Matthew Hammond - Room 103
Mr. Hammond grew up in Manchester, NH and went to Smyth Road Elementary, Hillside Junior High, and Central High Schools. He started Band in the fifth grade on trumpet and switched to french horn in the sixth grade. Horn became his main instrument throughout junior high, high school, and college. Mr. Hammond received his Bachelor's Degree with a double major in Music Education and Brass Performance at Boston University. He then went on to get his Master's Degree in Music from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He began his teaching career at Beech Street Elementary, went on to teach at Green Acres Elementary, then to the Middle School at Parkside. He eventually came to Southside in 2003 where he's been teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Band, after school ensembles, and different grades of General Music. He plays in and directs the Southern New Hampshire Wind Ensemble as well as plays in the SNHU Orchestra. His favorite color is red, his birthday is November 25th, and he loves playing Xbox and eating chocolate chip cookies and Drake's coffee cakes. One of his favorite television show characters is Spongebob Squarepants.
Mr. Hammond truly cares about the well-being and success of all of his students. Drop by the Band room on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and you'll often find a group of students practicing and getting extra help. Students of Mr. Hammond's know you'll do just fine in his classes as long as you are respectful, fun, polite, and follow the rules.
Mr. Stephen Baberadt - Room 163
Mr. Baberadt grew up in Malden, Massachusetts. He started Band in 4th grade. Though he had a rough start, his mom made him practice every day. Practice paid off and by the time he started junior high school he was performing with the high school band. From the beginning of junior high school, Mr. Baberadt was involved with all the vocal and instrumental music ensembles which included concert band, jazz band, marching band, brass ensemble, concert choir, and the madrigal singers. Mr. Baberadt was also a member of the District Concert Band and the All-State Concert Band. Through the years as an instrumentalist, Mr. Baberadt has performed as a freelance trumpet player. He was the principle trumpet player of the Northshore Philharmonic Orchestra, lead trumpet player for a Polish band and a German Octoberfest band, and played in the pit for many musicals. In addition, Mr. Baberadt has performed for many weddings and funerals as a trumpet player. As a vocalist, Mr. Baberadt was a long-time member of SPEBSQSA, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. He presently leads worship at his church. Mr. Baberadt has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education as well as Theory and Composition from the University of Lowell, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Technology from Framingham State University. He is also certified Level 3 Orff pedagogy and has studied Wind Ensemble Conducting at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
Mr. Baberadt finds great satisfaction when his students engage and enjoy music. His desire is to develop and nurture lifelong learning and an appreciation of music and the arts. Through many venues and projects, Mr. Baberadt’s goal has been to create an atmosphere and a classroom of “hands on” music. He gains great satisfaction in watching his students experience music, not just learn about it.
Here is his personal website:
https://sites.google.com/mansd.org/mrbaberadt/home
Mr. Kevin Cleary - Room 104
Mr. Cleary grew up in Rollinsford, New Hampshire and attended Somersworth High School. He began playing saxophone in fourth grade, and played baritone saxophone in band in middle and high school. He also sang in the chorus, performing multiple years in All-State and All-New England choral festivals. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in Music, with focus on voice, and was a co-founder of the Not Too Sharp a cappella group.
Mr. Cleary has been collecting and learning many instruments throughout his life, and loves playing any instrument he can get a hold of. He focused this love into a career in teaching, first at Franklin High School, then at Pittsfield Middle/High school, teaching band, chorus, guitar, and theory as well as general music. This is his first year teaching Orchestra and General Music at Southside, and he is very excited to be here!