Franklin Cohen, Principal Clarinet, Cleveland Orchestra
“That is some of the finest clarinet playing I have ever heard.”
Barry Tuckwell, international French Horn recording artist
“That is the most beautiful clarinet sound I have ever heard!”
Anonymous conductor of an American ballet company
“…beautiful sound…very insightful musicianship, transcends the technical difficulties of her instrument and phrases with great maturity and feeling…I want to recommend her to you as strongly as I can. I am proud to have been her teacher and her friend and will watch her as her exciting career as musician and artist teacher unfolds.”
The late Leon Russianoff
World Renowned Instructor of Clarinet, The Juilliard School
Recent Endorsements
REMEMBER FOR VIOLA, PIANO, CHIME
“Can’t wait for your concerto…I’m your champion!”
Brett Douglas Deubner, international viola virtuoso
THE DABBLING DUCK
“I just listened…what a wonderful piece! I can’t wait to start work on it.”
Beth Wheeler, English hornist, Arkansas Symphony
EMERGENCE
“Fullest admiration…if I had been a composer, this is just the sort of thing I would have composed. So delicate and full of joy…I’m honored.”
Isobel Platings, granddaughter of hymn composer, Martin F. Shaw
“Inspired to create having been at the concert….a treat to experience especially your composition.”
Nick Coetzee, international worship leader/composer
THE LOOKING GLASS
“Delightful! Terrific! So full of light and joy!”
Joan Tower, composer
“I babysat my niece today and we were playing your compositions. She is two and immediately looked up at me and said do you hear that beautiful music?”
Aimee Callahan, Indiana worship leader
“I absolutely love it…your creative, soulful heart and genius have taken flight!”
Franklin Cohen, former principal clarinetist, Cleveland Orchestra
BEYOND THE NOBLE WAY
“Beautiful, Judith! Such deep, thoughtful writing.”
Rebecca Vendemo, conductor, trumpeter
“Marvelous! I love it!”
Ed Zadrozny, trombonist
My Short Story
Up to age 65, I was a performer. I had no idea I was a composer, nor had I ever had a composition course. Out of necessity, I dabbled with arranging for my band/orchestra programs as a private school teacher–how do you balance three trumpets, one flute and five drummers? However, I didn’t consider that composing nor myself a composer. As I learned to improvise for worship teams, I began to jot down little fragments of tunes and toss them in a drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. Looking back, I see a composer was developing in me outside of my awareness. Then I met an amazing composer/teacher/ performer, David Moser McKay, who has helped fill in the holes from my lack of compositional training. In August of 2019, I also began to mentor with Joan Tower. At 71, the fact that I truly am a composer became a no brainer for me.
