Biography!

Thank you for visiting my website. Music has been a large part of my life. I enjoy all sorts of music but my specialty is writing songs that are historically based and/or songs that have a story or a message. I write in a variety of genres as you will see if you click on “listen to my music”. All songs are registered with SOCAN and are the property of Middletunes Music. Contact me if you would like to use a song or if you would be interested in co-writing with me.

I have written music for documentaries, songs for South Shore Players and the Lunenburg Dinner Theatre Co as well as local vocalists. I have written a number of musical comedies performed in schools and community theatre. This includes one such musical comedy in French. I was a co-writer of the very popular show “Glimpses” which ran in the town of Lunenburg from 2008-2018. 2021 was a banner year as I wrote the music and the script for the show “100 Years of Bluenose” for the Bluenose Foundation as well as the critically acclaimed “Canada’s Ocean Playground” for South Shore Players. In 2022, I was in the pit band with the show “Puss N’ Boots” and this year, I was Musical Director for the very successful 1950’s Cabaret put on by South Shore Players. This was followed by playing bass and guitar with the pit band for the children’s show, Greenoli.

I have written music for documentaries, songs for South Shore Players and the Lunenburg Dinner Theatre Co as well as local vocalists. I have written a number of musical comedies performed in schools and community theatre. This includes one such musical comedy in French. I was a co-writer of the very popular show “Glimpses” which ran in the town of Lunenburg from 2008-2018. 2021 was a banner year as I wrote the music and the script for the show “100 Years of Bluenose” for the Bluenose Foundation as well as the critically acclaimed “Canada’s Ocean Playground” for South Shore Players. In 2022, I was in the pit band with the show “Puss N’Boots” and this year, I was Musical Director for the very successful 1950’s Cabaret put on by South Shore Players. This was followed by playing bass and guitar with the pit band for the children’s show, Greenoli.

I have recorded 4 CDs. The first was with Collage where I wrote 11 of the 13 songs on the CD, “Scenes of Home”. The other three were Middletunes CD’s which featured all original material recorded with family and friends. I also did arrangements and played lead guitar and bass for Yves Rossignol’s CD “De la Nouvelle Ecosse à la Louisiane” and played lead guitar on 5 of the tracks on Patrick Thompson’s CD “Loving Fear”.

I remain active on the live music scene as well, doing the odd solo gig. I play with John Barr and Steve Chapin as a trio, and with Patrick Thompson as part of the duo ,Thompson and Middleton. I continue to perform as well with the bi-lingual group, Collage, and often play guitar with other artists such as Patricia Watson, Stewart Franck or Darren Arsenault. A couple of times a year I get a chance to do some gigs in Cape Breton with my brother and sister in law (Greg and Gaye). My newest gig is working as music director and lead guitar player for Ancient Greas(ers)/Sail Loft Singers who do a popular 50’s show. There is a close knit musical community on the South Shore.

I am originally from Three Island Cove (Les Ilots) in the Parish of L’Ardoise, Richmond County, Cape Breton. I graduated with degrees in History and Education from St. FXU. I got my MEd. from St. Mary’s University. Upon graduation I worked 18 years as a teacher at Lunenburg Jr-Sr High School and then 15 years at Centre Consolidated where I taught Social Studies/Sciences humaines until I became Vice-Principal and, for the last 6 years of my career, Principal of that school.

I have tried to be active in my community serving on a number of boards and committees and doing a fair amount of volunteering. I have also organized many musical events and fundraisers. I am active in the Acadian community, having served with the CSAP (Acadian School Board) for 12 years. I continue to be a board member with le Centre communautaire de la Rive-Sud and organize the events for la Fête Nationale des Acadiens.

My energies now are focused on playing music, writing songs and comedies and working with South Shore Players. I am also interested in the the preservation and promotion of our various Nova Scotia cultures. I get out fishing in when I can!

Hank