Meet the staff!
We are experienced and musically diverse to provide expertise to our students. Below is a brief summary of our professional experience.
John Birckhead
John graduated from TCNJ in 2006 with a B.A in Music Education, and a Masters in Music Education from Boston University in 2009. As a piano major and trombone minor, he spent 10 years directing middle school concert band, jazz band, music theater and choir, as well as teaching general music. Over the past 5 years he dove into the world of Orchestral teaching, and currently teaches at both Myles J. McManus and Joseph E. Soehl Middle Schools in Linden, NJ.
Outside of his school district, he has conducted the CJMEA Honors Orchestra, adjudicated CJMEA Region auditions, presented at the NJMEA State Music Conference, music directed for Trilogy Repertoire, and accompanied the NJMEA all state orchestra on piano.
He teaches privately, and his studio includes piano, trumpet, trombone, and violin students. When it's safe, he performs in weddings, community theater, and various other gigs. This is his 18th year working at this camp, and he is so excited to work with our students!
Joe Espineira
Joseph Espineira brings with him 14 years of teaching experience of students of all ages and backgrounds. Mr. Espineira is a graduate of The College of New Jersey where he majored in music with a concentration in percussion and secondary education.
He is currently the head district band director for Manville Public Schools where he teaches band grades 5-12, class guitar, class piano, marching band, and jazz band. Prior experiences brought Mr. Espineira to Washington, DC, Bernardsville, NJ, and tours around the country with Drum and Bugle Corps both as a marching member and education staff member.
Mr. Espineira keeps an active performance schedule with the Eastern Wind Symphony and has a studio of private percussion students. He is a member of NAfME, NJEA, Pi Kappa Lambda Education Honors Society, and Kappa Delta Pi Music Honors Society.
Mr. Espineira is looking forward to having the opportunity to work with your students at the this year’s camp!
Vinnie Sorensen
Mr. Vincent Sorensen graduated from Montclair State University in 2003 with a B.A in Music Education. He is currently in his 20th year at Green Brook Middle School, where he directs the concert band, wind ensemble, jazz band, and coaches many chamber ensembles. All of the ensembles have had tremendous success in competition, most notably with the jazz band and wind ensemble winning the best overall award annually.
In addition to teaching at Green Brook Middle School, Mr Sorensen has conducted the Morris/Union Jointure Commission Jazz Band, adjudicated CJMEA Region auditions, and held sectionals for the saxophone section of the CJMEA Jazz Ensemble.
Mr. Sorensen is also an active performer, and has extensive performance experience. He has performed in various settings, which include jazz band, orchestra, concert band, saxophone quartet, saxophone ensemble, and several pit orchestras. Mr. Sorensen has studied classical saxophone with Harvey Pittel and Dr. Paul Cohen, woodwind doubling with Dr. Edward Joffe, and jazz with Bruce Williams.
Mr. Sorensen teaches privately on all saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute. This is his 20th year working at the LHTPTO Sending District Summer Music Camp, and he is so excited to begin working with all of our students!
Craig Stanton
Mr. Stanton is a graduate of The College of New Jersey (2007) with a B.M. in Music Education and a graduate of the Teachers’ College at Columbia University (2009) with a Master of Arts in Music and Music Education. He has taught String Orchestra and Music Composition for the last 16 years at both the middle school and the high school level. Currently he is the Orchestra Director and Music Composition teacher at Westfield High School.
Mr. Stanton also currently serves as the co-chair for the NJ All-State Orchestra Procedures committee, which helps to direct the NJ All-State Orchestra program. He is also an accomplished double bassist and conductor that maintains a regular schedule of performances throughout New Jersey and New York. He has served as the principal bassist for the Raritan Valley Symphony and the Livingston Symphony, as well as the assistant principal bass in the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey. He also maintains a regular schedule of musical theater performances throughout the state. As a conductor, he has previously served as the conductor for the Brook Orchestra (Bound Brook) from 2016 - 2018, and is scheduled to conduct the 2024 CJMEA Honors Orchestra.