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Meet Your Hosts

Danilo Konvalinka (right), Founder
Danilo is a quiet man, born in Yugoslavia but raised in Austria. He came to this country in 1956 and has always been in the music box business. His vocation and avocation are one and the same: mechanical musical instruments. Danilo's grandfather was Ferdinand Lang, the favored composer of the last royalty of Austria, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His mother was a coloratura soprano who sang with the Vienna Volks Opera. His father was a self-taught engraver, craftsman and clock repairman who also played piano by ear. One of his aunts was Mme. Theresa Maetz, a classically trained pianist who specialized in interpretations of Mozart. Some of his other aunts were violinists. In 1963 the Musical Wonder House celebrated its grand opening. Over the years, Danilo opened satellite shops in several other states and increased the collection to several thousand pieces. After many years of hard work and dedication he has now retired, having entrusted the daily operations to Joe and Paulo. Danilo's legacy is a wonderful treasure which continues to enchant all who visit here.

Joseph M. Villani (left), Co-Trustee
Joseph M. Villani, Co-Trustee, was born in Milo, Maine. He was educated in Lenox, Massachusetts and Rochester, New York, graduating with a BS in Music Education with a double concentration in Piano and Voice. Along with Master's study at Westminster Choir College under Joseph Flummerfelt, the University of Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State University, he has sung with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Robert Shaw in a 'Mostly Mozart' series at Lincoln Center, NYC, as well as having the honor to sing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London. Joseph was recognized in Maine, New Jersey and New York for his 25-years contribution to the District, State and Regional MENC and ACDA organizations as clinician, conductor, manager and accompanist. His middle and high school vocal ensembles performed throughout the Northeast. For ten years he accompanied patrons at the Front Porch in Ogunquit, Maine.

Paulo A. Carvalho (right), Co-Trustee
Paulo Carvalho, Co-Trustee, hails from a large family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With a PhD in Education from Oxford, England, he has served both as a high school instructor and principal, as well as a college professor. Later, Paulo worked for the state of Sao Paulo in the House of Representatives as the Personal Assistant for the Governor of Sao Paulo. At the Musical Wonder House Paulo greets our visitors and assists them in our gift shop. In his spare time Paulo designs and nurtures the perennial gardens that grace the entrance walkway.

Richard Delano (left), Docent
Richard Delano hails from a long line of seafaring folk in Phippsburg, Maine. Born in 1940, he was raised and educated in Bath, graduating in 1959 from Morse High School. After serving overseas in the Navy for four years, Richard returned in 1963 to marry his high school sweetheart, Marilyn. Richard earned a degree in Education in 1966 from the University of Maine at Farmington. He then taught sixth grade in Topsham for 42 years, retiring in 2008. Richard and Marilyn live in Woolwich, have raised two boys, and are now the proud grandparents of five. Richard loves meeting people from 'away,' speaking several languages with our many visitors, and guiding old and new friends through the Musical Wonder House.