Dr. James Chesebrough

Music Director, 2022-Present

Dr. James Chesebrough received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, and his subsequent degrees in conducting from the University of Connecticut. As a graduate student, he served as the assistant conductor of the University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble. His interest in 19th-century music began with his doctoral dissertation on David Wallis Reeves, bandmaster of the American Band of Providence, Rhode Island from 1866-1900. In 2004 he became the director of the Newmont Military Band, an historic recreation of an ensemble from the 1890’s. He has also performed in two tours with the Yankee Brass Band, and arranged period music for these and other ensembles including the Centennial Brass Band of Portland, ME.

As a trombonist, Dr. Chesebrough has performed with the American Trombone Choir in St. Petersburg, Russia; the International Trombone Festival Weekend Warriors Trombone Choir in Helsinki, Finland; the International Trombone Festival William F. Cramer Trombone Choir in Utrecht, The Netherlands; the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra and numerous big bands throughout New England.

For twenty-six years Dr. Chesebrough was a Band Director in the public schools of Ohio and New Hampshire, and he received the Outstanding Band Director award from the New Hampshire Band Directors Association in 1998. He was the Visiting Music Director for the Yale University Bands in 2005-2006 and became a full professor and director of the Concert Band at Keene State College from 2006 until his retirement in 2018. In 2022 Dr. Chesebrough was invited to become the director of the Yankee Brass Band.