Coordinator of Music Everett Public Schools
Everett Crimson Tide Marching Band Director
Everett Public Schools Everett MA
1996-Present
University of Massachusetts at Amherst BS Env/Des/Eng
University of Massachusetts at Lowell MusEd
Massachusetts Professional Certification Music Ed 1995-Present
Inducted into
Massachusetts Drum Corps and Music Educators Hall of Fame
April 2012
City of Everett Recipient 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
2018 Golden Apple Award as a dedicated teacher of the Everett Public Schools
Mr. O’Brien brought a vision to the Everett Public Schools to assist in building one of the finest music programs in Massachusetts. During his tenure, the program has expanded to include band, percussion, strings, jazz, show choir, music theory, piano lab, and rock band. The Everett Music Program now services over 7,000 students. The Music Program has also been on the National scene on several occasions, Six separate performances in Washington D.C., a trip to the Orange Bowl BCS Championship Game in Miami, Florida, more than ten years worth of visits to Dayton, Ohio, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and San Diego, California for WGI Percussion Championships, and of course the wonderful experience of performing at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Just this year, the Everett Music Program was selected to represent the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts to perform at the 80th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii on December 7, 2021! Mr. O’Brien firmly believes in a team approach to music education with superb teachers that will inspire young students to be their best as both musicians and human beings. The Everett Public Schools Music Department has been named four times by the National Association of Music Merchants as one of the best inner city music programs in the Nation.
Mr. O’Brien has also taught numerous award winning Drum & Bugle Corps, including his role on the brass team the Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps of Nashua, New Hampshire (1995-1999 & 2001) during which time they won two DCI Division 2 Championships. He also has worked with the Boston Crusaders (1992-1994), Connecticut Hurricanes (1995-2000), Rochester Crusaders (2006-2009), Syracuse Brigadiers (2004-2005), Carolina Gold (2010-2011), Fusion Corps (2010-2013), and most recently, the Long Island Sunrisers. (2014-2017) Mr. O’Brien has worked on the Drum Corps International Event Staff as a Show Coordinator and Timing & Penalties adjudicator from 2004-2011. Mr. O’Brien was inducted into the Massachusetts Drum Corps & Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2012.
Mr. O’Brien was a marching member of the Rhode Island Matadors (1986-1987), UMASS Amherst Marching Band (1983-1987), Fitchburg Kingsmen (1989-1990), Boston Crusaders Senior Corps (1991-1992), Connecticut Hurricanes (1995). Mr. O’Brien has also consulted with numerous award winning marching bands that include Norwood High School under the direction of Paul Alberta, Biddeford High School under the direction of Thomas Lizotte, Sandwich High School, North Stokes High School North Carolina under the direction of Jonathan Gifford, and Waltham High School. Mentors include Walter Chestnut, George Parks, Thomas Hannum, Jim Prime, Thomas Lizotte, Charles Poole, Carol O’Brien.
During Mr. O’Brien’s limited free time he works as an Usher for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and loves to attend New England Patriots games. He is a member of the National Association for Music Educators, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, Massachusetts Judges Association, and a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
Massachusetts Drum Corps and Music Educators Hall of Fame Member 2012
American Buglers Hall of Fame Member 2022