A Friendly Musical Home
Founded in 1977, Concord Singers is a women’s community chorus under the direction of Matthew Zabiegala. There is no formal audition process to join. While some prior singing experience is preferred, enthusiasm and ability to learn wonderful music are the only essential prerequisites. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings from September to May at Calvary Church in Summit.
Announcing our new Choral Director, Matthew Zabiegala!
As an active musician and leader, Matthew is committed to leading programs through innovative and philanthropic programming, community outreach and involvement, and most importantly, providing a healthy environment for musicians to cultivate their artistry.
With a passion for liturgical music, Matthew is currently the Director of Music and Organist at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township in Chatham, NJ. Matthew has also served as the Director of Music/Organist at New Albany UMC (New Albany, OH), Townley Presbyterian Church (Union, NJ), and Bridgewater UMC (Bridgewater, NJ.
As a sought-after soloist and chorister, Matthew has had numerous engagements in Ohio, Georgia, New Jersey, and NYC. Matthew has recently performed as a featured soloist and chorister with the Summit Chorale, West Village Chorale, and Riverside Choral Society. Matthew is an artist with the professional chamber choirs, Kinnara Ensemble & Terpsichore Ensemble, presenting concerts in the greater New Jersey and Atlanta, GA areas.
Passionate about education, Matthew is currently an adjunct professor at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY. Matthew previously served as the Director of Choirs at Central Crossing and Worthington Kilbourne High Schools in Columbus, OH and at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, NJ.
Matthew holds a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and served as an assistant conductor, chorister, and featured soloist for the Glee Club, Kirkpatrick Choir, and University Choir. He was afforded the opportunity to deliver inspirational performances at Lincoln Center, Trinity Church Wall Street, National and Regional ACDA Conferences, and internationally in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and in Germany at the Martkoberdorf Chamber Choir Competition. Matthew also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University performing as a chorister and featured soloist with the OSU Chorale, Men’s Glee Club, and Symphonic Choir.
Matthew is excited to serve as the Choral Director for the Concord Singers!
Robert Long: Accompanist
An accomplished pianist and vocal coach, Robert Long has performed as organist at Carnegie Hall, pianist in recital at Weill Recital Hall and on the Noonday Series at Trinity Church in New York. He has performed in Lincoln Center as guest conductor of the annual Messiah Sing-In and has prepared choruses to sing with the Opera Orchestra of New York in Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Long previously served as Director of Music at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, where he conducted the Cathedral Choir and worked with world-renowned guest artists. He also conducted the St. Patrick’s Cathedral Chamber Orchestra, comprised of musicians from New York’s leading orchestras.
Robert Long serves as music director with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and is currently the principal organist of Saint Mary’s Abbey in Morristown.
The Concord Singers
This women’s ensemble is a unique group that achieves high quality through dedication and hard work. Members come from many age groups, professions and backgrounds, and hail from 23 towns in six counties. We perform two main concerts per year: a celebration of spring in May and a holiday event in December. We also sponsor a Women’s Choral Workshop in alternate years.
Our repertoire is varied and includes secular and sacred music. Composers range from the classical works of Beethoven, Mozart and Mendelssohn to the more modern works of Gywneth Walker, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Z. Randall Stroope, Clifton Noble, Jr. and George Gershwin.