About The Directors

Mike Bergeron

Hi!  My name is Mike Bergeron and I teach instrumental music for grades 4 and 5 at Chamberlain St., William Allen, Maple St. Magnet and Gonic Elementary School.  I am originally from Bristol, RI, where I grew up and went to school. I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. 

I am so fortunate to have had many great opportunities to play with some amazing bands, orchestras and incredible musicians.  My greatest experience though was when I performed on stage with Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cello players of all time, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington DC.  Locally, I am proud to say that I was one of the founding directors of the Strafford Wind Symphony, a community band based here in Rochester, which is still going strong today!

I started teaching in Rochester in 1984.  (I have been around a long time!)  During my years here, I have come to love this community and working with its young students.  One of my many joys in teaching is seeing how playing a musical instrument can change and enrich a person’s life and I see it all the time.  I also bump into many of my former students everywhere I go, and I am always so delighted and encouraged to see them and to talk with them!

I currently live in the seacoast area of NH and have been married for 34 years to my wonderful wife!  I have three children and I try to see them as often as I can. As a family, we love to hike, sail, kayak, canoe, go to concerts and listen to music.  We also love warm family camp fires in our backyard and when we can, we love to travel!

Melissa Hunt

Hello!  My name is Melissa Hunt and I am happy to say that I have been teaching in the Rochester School District for 30 years!  I teach instrumental music at East Rochester, Nancy Loud, School Street and McClelland Schools. It is exciting to me to be able to teach in the same school system that I grew up in.  It was here in Rochester that I discovered my love for music.  I played the saxophone all the way up through high school and was even the drum major for the Spaulding High School Band.  As a saxophone major, I earned my Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, NY and my Masters of Music Education degree from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, CT.

I really enjoy teaching my elementary band students and watching them progress musically.  Every day is different and rewarding.  It gives me great joy when I see my former students performing in the high school band as well as continuing their enjoyment of music during their lifetime. What a great opportunity I have to give back to the music program that gave the gift of music to me.

When I am not teaching, I love playing my saxophone with the Strafford Wind Symphony which is based out of Rochester.  I have enjoyed performing with them for over 24 years!  My husband, Doug and I love the outdoors - hiking, biking, walking on the beach and traveling together. My newest passion is horseback riding!