Carlos Martinez is new music director for Gilford Community Church

Gilford Community Church has hired a Music Director, Carlos Martinez, to join its organist, Carolyn Ames, in providing the church’s music and choral direction. He has been a public school music teacher in New Hampshire for the past 12 years and is the music teacher, choral and band director at Canterbury Elementary School and at Belmont Middle School.

Martinez has been the soloist and accompanist at All Saints’ Anglican Church and has been the music director and conductor at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and Lakes Region Opera Company. A sought-after choral technician, Martinez has worked with local school choral groups, entering them into competitions and festivals, winning top honors at all events. He is an accomplished musician and has sung opera in many parts of the world.

The founder and Music Director of Operafest of New Hampshire, he is also the town band director for Center Harbor and runs a private vocal and piano studio in Manchester. Recently, Martinez was nominated for the Disney Teacher Hand Award, honoring dedicated teachers excelling in their field who “lead children in the right direction.”

Martinez lives by the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton with his wife, Jane Cormier, (an exceptional singer herself) and two children, Catherine, 15, and Christopher, 7.