Our Graduate Assistants
OUR DOCTORATE STUDENT
Matthew Zabiegala is a dynamic musician, conductor, and educator dedicated to pushing boundaries in programming, fostering community engagement, and nurturing artistic growth among musicians. As the Artistic Director of the New Jersey Chamber Singers since 2019 and the Concord Singers since 2022, Matthew has orchestrated diverse musical experiences and continues to elevate eclectic, thematic programming and amplifying underrepresented compositional voices. Matthew recently led a joint tour presenting concerts in Germany and Czechia with Summit Chorale and Concord Singers.
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With a passion for liturgical music, Matthew serves as 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), leading these programs through offerings of successful Concert Series, major sacred works, weekly anthems, and solo vocal performances.
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, Riverside Choral Society at Alice Tully Hall, and a featured recital with Lyrica Chamber Music performing the music of Lili Boulanger , William Grant Still, and Amy Beach. Matthew is currently a performing 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 Zabiegala enjoyed careers 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 is a frequent guest clinician and is on faculty at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY.
Matthew is currently earning a Doctoral degree in Choral Conducting at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, studying with Dr. Brandon Williams. Matthew earned a Master’s degree studying with Professor Emeritus, Dr. Patrick Gardner in 2019. Matthew was afforded the opportunity to deliver inspirational performances in the choral program as a featured soloist and assistant conductor 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, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Robert J. Ward, Dr. Richard Schnipke, Dr. Kristina Caswell-MacMullen, and Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt.
OUR MASTERS STUDENT
Joshua Gonzalez is a Jewish conductor and musician based in NY/NJ Metro Area, currently serving as Co-Conductor and Music Director of Makhelat HaMercaz, the Jewish Choir of Central New Jersey; and Conductor of HaZamir Brooklyn, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir. He has also formerly served as Director of Choirs at Congregation Beth Sholom in Teaneck NJ, and as Senior Associate Conductor and Artistic Coordinator of the Grammy Award–winning National Children’s Chorus.
He has appeared as both conductor and vocalist on some of the world’s most renowned stages, including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Jazz @ Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera House, Alice Tully Hall, Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, Henry Crown Hall in Jerusalem, Eric Ericsonhallen in Stockholm, and Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn. Highlights include preparing the National Children’s Chorus for Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at Walt Disney Concert Hall produced by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducting the premiere of new choral arrangements of the music of Noah Aronson (arr. Dave Schlossberg) at the North American Jewish Choral Festival, and performing in choruses for Verdi’s and Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall.
Gonzalez has been immersed in the art of conducting since the age of 16 under the tutelage of Maestro Matthew Lazar, the leading force of Jewish choral music. He is also a graduate of the inaugural class of the Zamir Choral Foundation’s Jewish Choral Conducting Institute, the only such program in North America. In addition to his studies with Maestro Lazar, Joshua has also been mentored in conducting and classical voice by Dr. Patrick Gardner, Dr. Brandon Williams, Eduardo Chama, and Richard Leech. A graduate of the BA music program at Rutgers University; Joshua is proud to be returning back to his Alma Mater, pursuing the MM degree in Choral Conducting, under the tutelage of Dr. Brandon Williams
