Joe Beninati (he/him)

Interim Music Education Program Coordinator

Joe joined 317 in 2020 as a Drum set TA. He graduated from SUNY Purchase College with a BA in Liberal Arts. After college he quickly got in the NYC music scene, playing drums with multiple bands. While performing in New York, he also became a Merchandising Manager for HH Brown shoes located in Greenwich, CT, where he worked for 18 years. It was the perfect way to gain experience in both the music world and business world simultaneously. Joe is excited to use his skills in both to step in to help at 317 during this time of transition. Joe continues to be active as a musician in Maine and teaches drums. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife, son and daughter and multiple animals.

Nancy Penna Curran (she/her)

Partnerships

Masters in Music Education, BA-Music education
Nancy has spent many years as a music educator in both public and private schools, mostly in Maine but also in England. Her experience in elementary methods and performance groups in middle and junior high school chorus and band gives her a wide range of experience and knowledge about students and how they learn. A past and current member of many performing groups, she has experience as lead vocalist in local performance bands of both pop and big band genre. Her vocal experience also engages the classical realm as past member of Choral Arts Society and a current member of the Portland Community Chorus.

Having held leadership roles in professional teaching organizations in Maine, she understands the need for community outreach through music experiences for students of all ages and abilities.

Nancy is currently a member of the music ministry in local churches and is currently keyboard accompanist and lead vocalist at two churches in Portland.

Nancy is pleased to be a part of the staff of teaching artists at 317 Maine.

Lisa Frates (she/her)

Director of Marketing & Communications

Lisa joined the 317 Main team in 2020. A native of Salt Lake City, she has a MA from Georgetown University and has spent twenty years working in the non-profit sector as an executive director. With a background in marketing, public relations, and organizational development, Lisa has worked with various organizations on brand development and event execution. She served on the board of directors for US Lacrosse where she drafted tools for all 63 chapters to utilize to build stronger boards and recruit and retain volunteers. She was also awarded the Game Changer award for her contributions to sports tourism as the general manager of the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex (RAC), a 23 million dollar sports complex that opened in 2016. Lisa is a passionate singer/songwriter who enjoys playing music (Lisa Hillary) with her husband, two children, and their dog Cypher.

Gretchen Hanes (she/her)

Little Roots Director 

Gretchen joined 317 Main in 2021.  She previously taught elementary music in public schools both in Westbrook and Auburn.  She received her Bachelors of Music in Music Education from University of Hartford and her Masters in Education from Lesley University.  She loves providing high quality music education to families and our youngest students at 317 Main.  Gretchen lives in West Falmouth with her husband and two young children and enjoys knitting, singing, dancing, and being outdoors.

Alicia Phelps (she/her)

Director of Music Education

Alicia Phelps is vocalist, pianist and music educator based in Southern Maine.  Alicia has performed with Grammy award-winning vocalist/saxophonist Darmon Meader (New York Voices), The Portland Jazz Orchestra, organist/pianist Dr. Joe Utterback, jazz pianist Jed Wilson, and notable musicians throughout Southern Maine and the Seacoast areas. Since graduating from the University of Southern Maine with a B. M. in Music Education in 2016, Alicia has worked in both the public and private spheres of music education to bring meaningful music experiences to students in Maine. Alicia now works at 317 Main's Director of Partnership Programs, shares her love of music ministry at the Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, and loves walking her pup Maisie in the Maine sunshine.

Samantha King (she/her)

Director of Enrollment

Samantha joined the 317 Main team in 2020. Her background is in non-profit events and fundraising and she received her BA from Skidmore College and her JD from the University of Maine School of Law. Samantha lives in Yarmouth with her husband and two young sons and enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time outdoors with her family and friends.

Marie Sevier (she/her)

Administration Coordinator

Serving the 317 Community Music Center for nearly two decades and contributing to the vision of a music center that welcomes everyone to experience the joy of making music together.

Nat Peirce (he/him)

Business Manager

John Williams (he/him)

Executive Director 

John has been involved with 317 Main from the beginning.  He served as the first Board Chair from 2004 to 2009 and became the organization’s first Executive Director in 2009.  The decision to get involved with 317 Main was based on the power of music to connect people and creating social sustainability.  Prior to joining 317 Main, John worked at several environmental consulting firms for more that 25 years and focused on supporting Fortune 500 corporations and colleges/universities with building and implementing their environmental sustainability management practices.  John holds a BS degree from St. Lawrence University and a MS degree from the University of Vermont.

John lives with his wife Holly in North Yarmouth and is fortunate to have his two grown daughters and their families living close by.  John took up the mandolin over 20 years ago and enjoys playing and listening to music every chance he gets.

Cass Baker (she/her)

Cass and her three girls have been students of 317 Main for over 5 years. After first reigniting her passion for singing in the Local Vocals, the discovery of mandolin and bass soon followed. Cass has served as a coordinator for several 317 Main events including Open Mic Night, the 2019 HenryFest celebration, Contradances, Carol Singing at the Owl and Elm, and several House Parties. An avid generalist, Cass is a Hospice RN, a potter, a public policy wonk, an occasional building planner, and a great facilitator of humans coming together to make beautiful moments happen.

Renee Bogart (she/her)

Renee has had an extensive career in technology and information systems including a tenure as IT Director and Public Administrative Team Leader for the city of Auburn, Maine. Her love of music started at an early age playing the piano with her grandmother at church. She is a proud parent to three children, all of whom have either enrolled or are currently enrolled in programs at 317 Main. Renee is a volunteer at Mabel I. Wilson Elementary School, a Girl Scout Troop Leader and a “visiting mind” at River School in Yarmouth. Renee, her husband, Anthony, and their children live in Cumberland.

Gail Cinelli (she/her)

Gail is a retired registered nurse and has several years of non-profit experience. She was the Executive Director at The Center For Grieving Children and past Board President for the Spannocchia Foundation. Gail also helped start the Yarmouth Community Garden as well as a smaller community garden on Squirrel Island in Boothbay Harbor. She is the mother of 2, grandmother of 4 and currently a ukulele student and a member of Shower heads at 317 Main.

Wendy Drexler (she/her)

Wendy is an educational technology consultant who has developed online learning programs for Brown University, Johns Hopkins University, and IBM. She plays guitar and sings with the 317 Main folk ensemble group and dabbles in songwriting. She is also on the Board of One Longfellow Square and cares deeply about the power of music to build community.

Shari Elder (she/her)

Board Chair 

Shari Elder (SHAH-ree) is a Meeting and Event Planner whose passion project is producing and promoting the Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival in Brunswick. She has taken fiddle and uke at 317 Main. Shari and her husband live in North Yarmouth where they raised their twin daughters who are now off “adulting”. Shari serves on the Board of the Bluegrass Music Association of Maine and is an active volunteer for Make-A-Wish Maine and Junior Achievement of Maine.

Fred Frawley (he/him)

Board Chairman

Fred took music lessons and participated in several groups at 317 Main for 5 years before joining the board. Fred plays left-handed mandolin imperfectly but with a decreasing level of futility. He and his wife, Polly, live in Cumberland and have two grown sons. Fred retired from practicing law in 2020.

Tom Feeley (he/him)

Tom is a union-side labor lawyer who grew up outside of Boston and moved from Brooklyn, NY, to Maine in 2015. But don't hold that against him. He has been playing guitar for 30 years and frequenting bluegrass festivals up and down the east coast for the last 20. He lives in Topsham with his wife and two kids, and he plays gigs around Portland as much as the law, his family, and the global health crisis allows.

Peter Haynes (he/him)

After a successful career in leadership roles at several companies, Maine native Peter Haynes turned his attention to the nonprofit world. He has shared his business acumen on boards of the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Maine Medical Center and the University of Maine. Peter has played piano, organ, and tuba and sung in choirs since childhood. By joining the board at 317 Main, he hopes to help others discover the joy and relaxation that comes from playing and listening to music. He has three grown sons and seven grandchildren.

Stefan Iris (he/him)

Stefan serves as Chief Investment Officer with Camden National Wealth Management and is an avid guitar player. He and his family live in North Yarmouth and enjoy spending time outdoors together.

Linda Libby  (she/her)

Linda has a career background in hospitality management and event marketing. She is currently a hospitality litigation consultant and occasional event planner. She also serves on the WasteReduction Advisory Committee for South Portland, where she resides. She enjoys being part of the Monday ukulele group and the Shower heads here at 317 Main.

Emily Muther (she/her)

Emily has a career background in Development/Fundraising. She has worked for the MFA, Boston,Dartmouth College and most recently, Bates College on annual fund, events, research/prospect management, volunteer management, new member recruitment, databases, and writing/communications. Emily lives in Yarmouth with her husband and two young daughters who are enrolled in The Little Roots Program.

Jeff Schwartz (he/him)

Jeff founded Boston based, Architecture and Interior Design firm, J. Schwartz Design. In prior professional lives, Jeff co-founded and managed New Health Ventures – a captive of BCBSMA, and J. Schwartz and Company, a boutique investment advisory firm. But music and performance art have always been his true North Star. Through 317 Main, Jeff has rediscovered the joy of making music and the rich and lasting friendships music creates. He is now devoted to bringing that same 317 magic to people of all ages and backgrounds. Newly retired, Jeff and his wife Nancy split their time between Back Bay Boston and Biddeford Pool.

Jen Shurman (she/her)

Jen Shurman grew up playing in many music ensembles, and was excited when her own children asked to join 317 Main for guitar, saxophone, and voice lessons. Jen is an MBA and management consultant with strategic planning and healthcare sector expertise. Over the past decade she has consulted primarily with Executive Directors of nonprofits to help mission-driven organizations grow. In her free time, Jen likes to listen to live music, read with kids at East End School, spoil her dogs, expand her gardens, and explore Maine on foot or in her kayak.

Ania Small (she/her)

Ania is a psychologist and Aikido teacher. In addition to her private practice, she runs an Aikido school in Portland with her husband. In both roles she helps people grow and live more fulfilling lives. Ania believes wholeheartedly in the transformative power of music and 317 Main’s mission. Growing up in Poland and coming to the US in her 20s taught her about the importance of community. Her two sons took lessons at 317 and she participates in voice, songwriting and folk ensemble classes.

Jeff White (he/him)

Jeff worked as an attorney with Pierce-Atwood for 39 years. Now retired, Jeff is an avid cyclist, skier, grandparent and member of Unspent Youth, 317 Main’s Deep Roots ambassador band. Jeff and his wife live in Cape Elizabeth.

Justin Whitlock (he/him)

Justin has been a stalwart supporter of 317 Main for more than a decade as a board member, former board president, a longtime 317 student, and parent of not one, but two, Flight 317 musicians. Justin believes in the power of music to transform lives and is committed to helping 317 Main extend its reach in the community. Justin is an account manager with Systems Engineering in Portland. He and his wife Stephanie live in Yarmouth where they’re about to be empty nesters.