The Maine Songwriters Association announced today its slate of officers elected at their 1st Meeting of 2010 on January 12. The new officers are Peter Alexander, President; Alec Wall, Vice-President; Retta Choate, Secretary (and current Editor of the MSA Newsletter); and Linda Cooper, Treasurer.  Marc Mailhot, Public Information Officer (PIO), was elected to the Board to fill the vacancy of Dan Morin, who resigned from the Board after the November 2009 elections.  Marc will serve as a Board Member until the 2010 election in November. Other members of the board include Phil Daligan and Kevin Ward.  A brief Bio of each officer follows at the end of this release.

Maine Songwriters Association was formed ten years ago to provide resources and assistance to Maine’s vibrant community of songwriters.  Featured activities include a bi-monthly songwriters’ showcase on the first and third Thursday each month at the North Star Cafe starting at 8:00 pm, a songwriters’ “circle” on the second Monday of each month at 75 State Street, and a variety of special workshops and trainings covering topics from elementary (“How to tune and care for your guitar”) to advanced (“Enhanced performance techniques for the seasoned Musician.”)  The newly elected and energized board is seeking additional ways to serve the organization’s members.

“We’re looking for ways to provide the greatest value to our members,” said Peter Alexander, the new Board President. “We’re considering everything from a centralized calendar listing service where singer/songwriters can promote their gigs with a single email, to intensive peer to peer counseling on the complementary arts of songwriting and performing. It should be a great year for music in Portland, and we’re happy to be playing a significant role.”

Maine Songwriters Association Board Member Bios

President

Peter Alexander grew up on a small island near Cundys Harbor without electricity, running water, cars, or telephones--though he admits to spending the school year in Washington DC. He credits those experiences as major influences on his life and music.  He has traveled the world, performing with many great musicians, but now lives and regularly performs solo in Portland. Peter also serves as president of the board of Opportunity Maine, and is a contractor for the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment organizing a regional ecosystem restoration and conservation initiative.

Vice-President

Alec Wall started reading and playing jazz standards and Rock and Roll in the 1950's and along the way played Classic Rock...Funk and Country and is still actively playing.  Semi-retired, Alec also runs jam sessions and songwriting sessions in many venues.

Secretary 

Retta Guest Choate, a Maine native, is a singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist/recording artist who brings to MSA her passion for music and many years of administrative experience with Maine non-profits.

Treasurer

Linda Cooper is a life long Maine resident, singer/songwriter/musician with a professional background in business and IT.  She has three grown children and spends her spare time reading, writing and playing music with her husband, also a musician and sound man. Linda oversees the activities at the 302 Smokehouse and Tavern in Fryeburg the 2nd Thursdays of the month.

Board Member

Smitten by wanderlust and adventures in mountains, rivers and seas, Phil Daligan eventually settled on Peaks Island, Maine, where he still lives with his wife and two sons. Somehow between the day job, life, the universe and everything, he manages to write and perform the occasional song. Phil also oversees the Thursday night performances at North Star Music Cafe in Portland.

Board Member

Marc Mailhot is a 50 year-performing Maine Music Veteran. In the 1960's and 1970's he recorded...played and toured  with pioneering Maine bands Love, Inc. and Pegasus.  Marc currently performs with The Chapparals and as a Solo artist. Marc is the Founder and President of Marco Polo Music and is the Public Information Officer for the Maine Songwriters Association.

Board Member 

Kevin Ward stumbled upon his uncle's acoustic guitar when he was 3. It had a flat sunburst funish, two strings and a cracked neck. Now, a mere 30 some years later, Kevin has his own collection of broken guitars and has been playing and performing on and off for two decades. Although he was briefly caught up in the local rocker band My Disaster, and did an earlier stint with local reggae band Mystic Vibes, Kevin's heart is in roots music and he fancies himself belonging to that lot.  Kevin recently served as Secretary of the Board.