Faculty Portrait

Contact Information

Name: Brett Judson

Title: Lecturer in Music

Office Location: Capistrano 145

Email: brett.a.judson@csus.edu

Education : DMA, Yale School of Music

Courses Taught : MUSC 11, MUSC 103, MUSC 180, Choirs

Profile

Brett Alan Judson is a California native whose journey through the world of music has been truly extraordinary. Boasting degrees from esteemed institutions like the Yale School of Music, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Eastman School of Music, and Crystal Cathedral High School, Brett’s path is a testament to his passion for conducting and organ artistry. His most recent accolade is a doctoral degree in musical arts from The Hartt School, where he honed his conducting expertise under the mentorship of Edward Bolkovac. Brett's dedication also led him to private studies with esteemed conductors Pamela Perry and Donald Neuen. As Assistant Director of the New Haven Chorale, Brett helped prepare awe-inspiring performances of works such as J.C. Bach’s Magnificat, Charpentier’s Te Deum, Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. At Emanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester, CT, he conducted captivating renditions of Britten’s Rejoice in theLamb, Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass, Schütz’s Passion According to St. John, and Handel’s Messiah.

Passing on his expertise, Brett taught English Diction and directed the Hartt Camerata at The Hartt School. His musical journey extended internationally as an assistant conductor with the Connecticut Choral Union Touring Choir, leading performances in Prague and Budapest. Innovation is exemplified by his collaboration with award-winning composer Scott Perkins, who he commissioned to compose five sacred choral anthems. Notably, Brett undertook a major recording project with the Gothic Label in 2020, showcasing the premiere recording of Scott Perkins’s A New England Requiem and other sacred anthems. Currently a Lecturer at California State University, Sacramento, Brett conducts choirs, teaches music theory (including Advanced Counterpoint), and he shared the podium for notable pieces such as Beethoven’s Mass in C, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, and Poulenc’s Gloria.

Brett is passionate in his role as Director of Music at Trinity Church, Episcopal, a thriving parish in Folsom, California. He enthusiastically directs two adult choirs and a children’s choir. In 2019, he founded the Folsom Academy of Music, nurturing young musical talents in Folsom’s historic district.

Brett’s conducting journey is grounded by his accomplishments in organ artistry. Brett received the Barnes Award for Excellence in Pipe Organ at Eastman and was a finalist in the 2010 Poister Organ Competition. He has appeared on the international television program Hour of Power with Robert H. Schuller and the radio broadcast Pipedreams! Under the guidance of J. Christopher Pardini, David Goode, Wayne Foster, William Porter, and Martin Jean, he has performed at esteemed venues across the US and Norway, including Grace Cathedral (San Francisco, CA), Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels (Los Angeles, CA), First Congregational Church (Los Angeles, CA), St. Thomas Church (New York, NY), St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York, NY), Central Synagogue (Manhattan, NY), Bergen Cathedral (Bergen, Norway), and Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger, Norway). He has coached with noted organists David Higgs, Fred Swann, and Paul Jacobs.

Beyond the podium, Brett's leadership roles in the American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Directors Association reflect his commitment to musical excellence. He’s a compassionate Stephen Leader, trained by Stephen Ministries, to impact lives through caring ministry. His roles as a continuing education director and supervision coordinator underscore his service as an active member at Trinity Church. Beyond his musical pursuits, Brett finds balance in Roseville, California, with his hobbies of weightlifting and tennis.