Manchester Community Music School Announces New Board Leadership
Local business and community leaders Greg Powers, Andrea Sabens, Linda Gallagher and Timothy Noronha to serve in key officer positions
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Manchester Community Music School (MCMS) is proud to announce its new Board of Directors leadership team, bringing together four accomplished New Hampshire professionals whose expertise in business, finance, community development, business, and civic leadership will help guide the school into its next chapter.
Greg Powers, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan, has been named Chair of the Board, moving into the role after serving as Vice Chair. Andrea Sabens, Managing Partner of DualEdge Consulting, LLC, will serve as Vice Chair; Linda Gallagher, Community Development Consultant, will serve as Treasurer; and Timothy Noronha, Engineer and General Manager at TURBOCAM, will serve as Secretary.
Together, the four officers bring an extraordinary breadth of professional expertise as well as a shared commitment to Manchester Community Music School and the community it serves.
“We could not be more fortunate to have this group stepping into leadership at such an exciting time for MCMS,” said Polly Towner, Executive Director of Manchester Community Music School. “They bring tremendous professional experience and dedication, but equally important, they understand why this school matters. They believe in access to music education for all, strong community institutions, and the role MCMS will continue to play in the lives of families throughout the larger community.”
Powers is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan serving buyers, sellers, and investors throughout southern New Hampshire. A Manchester resident since 1998, he has built both his career and his community involvement in the region.
His service extends well beyond real estate. Powers has supported a number of Manchester-area nonprofit and community organizations, including The Way Home, which works to expand access to safe and affordable housing. He has also volunteered with the Central High School Association of Music Supporters (CHAMPS), served on the MCMS Board of Directors and Development Committee, and served on the Manchester Zoning Board of Adjustment, including as its chair.
Powers also brings a particularly personal perspective to his leadership: he is an MCMS parent and has experienced firsthand the impact the school and its teachers can have on students and families.
After serving as Vice Chair, his transition to Board Chair represents both continuity and a deeper commitment to the future of the organization.
“MCMS is one of those special places that makes Manchester a stronger community,” said Powers. “As a parent, board member, and longtime Manchester resident, I have seen what happens when students are given a place to learn, perform, build confidence, and belong. I am honored to help lead the Board as we support the school’s continued growth.”
Stepping into the role of Vice Chair, Andrea Sabens brings nearly 25 years of accounting, financial management, and executive leadership experience.
Sabens is a Certified Public Accountant in New Hampshire and Managing Partner of DualEdge Consulting, LLC, where she helps organizations strengthen financial strategy, operations, and long-term growth.
Before founding DualEdge Consulting, Sabens held senior leadership positions at Lantheus Holdings, Inc., including serving as the company’s Chief Accounting Officer. During her tenure, her responsibilities included oversight of controllership, financial planning and analysis, shared services, tax, and treasury. Her earlier career included financial leadership roles at Presstek and Graphic Packaging International, after beginning her career with Ernst & Young.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire, as well as an MBA and Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University and is also an MCMS parent.
“As both a parent and a board member, I have had the opportunity to experience MCMS from multiple perspectives. What stands out to me is the quality of the programs, the dedication of the faculty and staff, and the genuine impact MCMS has on students and families.” said Sabens “I’m excited to bring my experience in finance and organizational leadership to the Vice Chair role and to help MCMS build the strong foundation it needs for continued growth.”
Linda Gallagher will serve as Treasurer, bringing extensive experience in community development, organizational assessment, real estate development, financial analysis, and nonprofit consulting.
A graduate of McGill University, with an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University, Gallagher’s 40+ year career included, most recently, work with NeighborWorks America community-development and advisory services. She was an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University in the areas of accounting and financial management for community development professionals, also teaching affordable housing finance at national training institutes.
Her expertise in strengthening community-based organizations makes her particularly well suited to help MCMS maintain strong financial stewardship while continuing to expand its impact.
“Strong community organizations are characterized by a clear mission focus, good planning, vibrant community connections, and strong financial management. MCMS is a community gem, providing people of all ages with an opportunity to experience the joy of music and find camaraderie with others expressing themselves through voice or a musical instrument. …I’m honored to serve as Treasurer…many years to come. — Gallagher
Timothy Noronha will serve as Secretary, bringing an engineer’s perspective on innovation, systems, problem-solving, and organizational growth with a deep commitment to community impact.
Noronha is an engineer and leader with TURBOCAM, the New Hampshire-based advanced manufacturing company headquartered in Barrington. His professional work has centered on engineering, manufacturing processes, new technologies, and the development and integration of complex systems. Turbocam is a proud sponsor of the school and deeply committed to impacting their local community for the better.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and its Thayer School of Engineering, Noronha holds degrees in Engineering Science and Mechanical Engineering. During his career with TURBOCAM, he has held engineering and management roles focused on developing innovative manufacturing processes and translating complex technologies into practical solutions.
His experience adds an important technology, manufacturing, and operational perspective to the MCMS Board.
“I’m drawn to organizations that are continually thinking about how they can improve, innovate, and create greater impact, and I see that spirit throughout MCMS. Music education brings people together in a very unique way, and I’m excited to contribute my experience in engineering, operations, and problem-solving as we think about the school’s future. It’s an honor to serve alongside a board and staff so committed to the Manchester community.” — Timothy Noronha
A Board Built for MCMS’s Next Chapter
The new leadership structure comes at a period of continued growth and momentum for Manchester Community Music School.
For more than four decades, MCMS has provided music education, ensembles, music therapy, performances, and community programming for students throughout Greater Manchester and southern New Hampshire. Its work brings together children taking their first music lessons, advanced young musicians, adults returning to music, individuals participating in music therapy, professional teaching artists, families, and community partners.
The backgrounds of the school’s new officers reflect the breadth of expertise required to sustain and grow that mission: community relationships and civic leadership from Powers; finance and organizational strategy from Sabens; community development and nonprofit sustainability from Gallagher; and engineering, innovation, and operational problem-solving from Noronha.
“This is what strong nonprofit governance should look like,” said Towner. “Our Board’s job is not simply to oversee an organization. It is to steward something that belongs to the community. Greg, Andrea, Linda, and Tim each bring very different expertise to the table, and they share an enormous belief in what MCMS can be. I feel incredibly fortunate to have them as partners in this work.”
The officers serve alongside fellow MCMS Board members and school leadership in advancing Manchester Community Music School’s mission and ensuring that high-quality music education remains accessible to the community for generations to come.
For more information about Manchester Community Music School, its programs, performances, and ways to support the organization, visit mcmusicschool.org.
About Manchester Community Music School
Since 1983, Manchester Community Music School provides high-quality music education and performance opportunities for students of all ages and abilities throughout Greater Manchester and southern New Hampshire. Through private lessons, ensembles, early childhood programming, music therapy, community partnerships, performances, and financial assistance, MCMS works to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music.