Martin Sedek – Music Director
Described as "a formidable new composer" by the Worcester Telegram, Polish-American composer and conductor Martin Sędek was born in Germany and raised in Poland and the United States. He is an award-winning voice in the world of choral and orchestral music, educated at Berklee College of Music in Boston (BM), Montclair State University (MM), and Rutgers University (PhD). Martin has studied composition with Tarik O'Regan, Robert Aldridge, and Matthew Harris, with additional studies with Steven Stucky, Chen Yi, and Steven Sametz; conducting with David Callahan and Julius Williams, with additional studies with William Weinert and Craig Hella Johnson.
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Martin is Composer-in-Residence at Harmonium Choral Society and is currently the Music Director and Conductor of Choral Art Society of NJ, and Artistic Director of the professional chamber choir Vocala Ensemble. Martin was a member of the choral and theory faculties at Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music from 2011-2020, and is currently chair of the music department and Director of Music at Keio Academy of New York. His music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa and commissioned by professional ensembles around the US. Notable composition awards include the Yale Glee Club Emerging Composer Award (2015) and the Stephen Paulus Prize (2018). He is a regular visiting lecturer in the collegiate composition studio throughout the US and his works are published by Ovation Music & Hal Leonard. Recordings of his works can be found on the Albany and Ovation Music Media labels.
Carol Walker, Assistant Director/Accompanist
Carol Walker, Masterwork’s newly appointed Assistant Director, has been their regular accompanist since November of 2007. Carol enjoyed a busy career as a high school choral teacher for 32 years before retiring in 2008. She continues her active association with various high schools and related organizations in northern NJ, serving as accompanist, musical director and choral director. She has also been in demand as musical director for dozens of amateur and professional theater groups, including summer stock and dinner theaters in NJ, PA, NY, and CT. For many years she served as choir director and organist for churches in NJ and NY.
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Carol graduated summa cum laude from Montclair State University with a degree in music education, majoring in piano, voice, and harp. During her teaching career she was selected to conduct the All-North Jersey Region I High School Women’s Chorus, Junior Region I Treble Chorus, and the All-Sussex County and All-Morris County High School SATB Honors Choirs. Carol also served as accompanist for many NJ Region and All-State Choruses. She was the Choral Division Chairperson for the North Jersey School Music Association for 10 years, and for three years also served on the NJ All-State Choral Procedures Executive Board. In 2003 she was a recipient of the Passaic County Governor’s Award as Teacher of the Year. Carol and her students toured Europe in the summers with American Music Abroad, for whom she worked as conductor and accompanist.
During the past 25 years, Carol has branched out from her classical training, pursuing folk music interests with her Appalachian mountain dulcimer and Celtic harp. To date, Carol has written and published 10 dulcimer instructional books, recorded five CDs, and produced one DVD with Homespun Music. As a dulcimer teacher and performer, Carol is in demand at annual music festivals all across the United States. She is also a three-time recipient of the Top Five Finalists Award at the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship held annually in Winfield, Kansas. She is founder and director of the New York Dulcimer Orchestra, based in the lower Hudson Valley.
Elizabeth Milliken, Consulting Managing Director
In partnership with the Board of Trustees, Liz’s primary focus for the organization is the development, coordination, and execution of a comprehensive fundraising plan. She is also responsible for achieving established concert revenue and audience cultivation goals by directing the day to day marketing and promotional campaigns as well as front of house logistics for each concert.
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Liz brings over 12 years of management experience to the organization and is a Certified Level lll grant writer. Liz holds a B.A. in Behavioral and Social Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has completed the Executive Philanthropy and Resource Development Certificate program at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Sal Montero, Conducting Intern
Sal Montero is a recent graduate of William Paterson University, earning a degree in Music Education with a focus in Voice. Sal has been a part of numerous productions with the William Paterson Voice Department, playing the roles of Jamie in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years, Bacchus in Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, Count Almaviva in W.A. Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and Sam in Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti.
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He has also participated in the Prague Summer Nights young artist program in Czechia, playing the role of Masetto in W.A. Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Sal has also performed as the bass soloist for the Hilltop Oratorio Choir’s production of Carmina Burana. Sal currently serves as Choral Director for the Warren Hills Regional School District.