Patricia Hurley, Paddy, founded the Community Music School in 1983 in response to the need for expanded music education in the community. The Founding Board included current Board President Margaret Very and Old Saybrook resident Nancy King.
A teacher for 38 years, Patricia was Band Director at John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School for 18 years and subsequently in Scarsdale, NY for 14.
A graduate of Cornell, she holds degrees from Eastman (MM Music ed) and UCONN (trumpet performance). She was a founding member of the Fair Winds Brass Ensemble, served as co-principal trumpet of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and performed regularly with several other Connecticut orchestras as well as Salt Marsh Opera and Cappella Cantorum.
Patricia founded the Community Music School chapter of the New Horizons Band in 2009 with current members Bob Johnson, Rolf Peterson and Tony Carrano. She also teaches trumpet at the school as well as at the Adult Band Camp at the New England Music Camp in Maine.
Paddy teaches on Tuesdays.