A Life in the Arts with Wayne Walters - Music Is His Life

 A Life in the Arts with Wayne Walters - Masterwork’s very own multi-hyphenated musical talent

March 2022

“As musicians, our job is to be there so other people can learn this wonderful art…there’s nothing like the art of being able to sing.” Wayne Walters

We’re particularly pleased to feature Wayne’s story in ‘A Life in the Arts’ as Wayne is on the Board of the Masterwork Music and Art Foundation (www.masterworkarts.org) and has been instrumental in developing our premier award offering. 

In our interview with Wayne, he walks us through his career from the very beginning to today. Still actively performing, conducting and composing, Wayne’s story proves committing to excellence in the arts doesn’t have to have an end date.   

Enjoy the video on our YouTube channel. 

About ‘A Life in the Arts’ 

 'A Life in the Arts' is a Zoom series celebrating those who have committed their lives to excellence in the arts. Our hope is that this series also illuminates how to navigate a career in the arts to up and coming artists. Interviews are conducted by Masterwork Board member Joseph White and run a half hour, with fifteen minutes dedicated to a q and a with attendees. Join us - or watch our sessions on the Masterwork Youtube Channel!  

About Masterwork Arts  

Masterwork Music & Art Foundation was founded more than 60 years ago in Morristown, New Jersey. The Founders, Shirley May and David Randolph, were passionate about the arts and understood the importance of nurturing developing artists, and making the arts available to a broad audience. Generations of artists were influenced by the years of concerts, theatrical events and fine arts projects Masterwork Arts funded and produced.   Today, Masterwork Arts supports excellence in the arts through a variety of grant offerings and awards, a zoom series on 'A Life in the Arts' and virtual classes that are open to all. To find out more, sign up for our enewsletter on www.masterworkarts.org.

A Life in the Arts with Michael Francis McBride and Samuel Lee Roberts - Dynamic in Dance and Life

 

March 2022

Our interview with Michael and Sam is likely to put a smile on your face, as their enthusiasm for the arts radiates. While they met and shared a career with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Sam is now pursuing acting and Michael is interested in musical theater.  Enjoy their amazing story on our YouTube channel!  

Enjoy this clip of them performing Robert Battle’s Strange Humors, which we discussed during the interview: 

And here's a clip showing some of their commercial work together. It's a Gild Hall Promotional Video.

Michael’s Work: 

For more information about Michael, visit: www.michaelfrancismcbride.com

You can follow him on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Sam’s Work: 

For more information about Samuel, visit: www.samuelleeroberts.com

You can follow him on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

About ‘A Life in the Arts’ 

 'A Life in the Arts' is a Zoom series celebrating those who have committed their lives to excellence in the arts. Our hope is that this series also illuminates how to navigate a career in the arts to up and coming artists. Interviews are conducted by Masterwork Board member Joseph White and run a half hour, with fifteen minutes dedicated to a q and a with attendees. Join us - or watch our sessions on the Masterwork Youtube Channel!  

About Masterwork Arts  

Masterwork Music & Art Foundation was founded more than 60 years ago in Morristown, New Jersey. The Founders, Shirley May and David Randolph, were passionate about the arts and understood the importance of nurturing developing artists, and making the arts available to a broad audience. Generations of artists were influenced by the years of concerts, theatrical events and fine arts projects Masterwork Arts funded and produced.   Today, Masterwork Arts supports excellence in the arts through a variety of grant offerings and awards, a zoom series on 'A Life in the Arts' and virtual classes that are open to all. To find out more, sign up for our enewsletter on www.masterworkarts.org.

Hometown Concert Organist Returns for a Special Performance

June 14 Update: We have a new date for 'In Concert with Colin Lynch' -- July 21! Join us to celebrate his Premier Award from Masterwork, a $10, 000 grant to advance his music career. To get tickets, see:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-event-date-for-in-concert-with-masterwork-awardee-colin-lynch-tickets-366515436537?fbclid=IwAR2LMjVN_6Rc8krddYf_Grl6YHPmUtJwAW5NUOa8xpTdGdzXfSMlpKHIBig

Don't miss Colin Lynch performing at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown, Saturday, March 19th

The Masterwork Music and Art Foundation, a NJ-based nonprofit dedicated to excellence in the arts, is pleased to present an organ recital by its Premier Awardee, Colin Lynch.  

The concert will take place Saturday, March 19th at 4pm at the historic St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Morristown, NJ. Lynch will present a program of works by composers such as Florence Price, Camille Saint-Saëns, Maurice Duruflé and Charles-Marie Widor. Lynch specially selected the program for the organ at St. Peter’s, which he knows well. "The organ at St. Peter's is one of the finest in the country, and I look forward to playing some of my favorite repertoire on this fantastic instrument," said Lynch.   

The concert is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. A reception will follow, to celebrate Colin and community arts leader, Tom Werder, Executive Director of Morris Arts, the popular area community arts organization. A portion of donations received will be applied to a special grant for Morris Arts: https://www.morrisarts.org/.  

Lynch received the Masterwork Music and Art Foundation Premier Award in recognition of his musicianship and advocacy for organ performance. “Colin is an incredible artist, and we at Masterwork Arts are looking forward to sharing this beautiful program with the public,” said Masterwork Executive Director, Todd Whitley. Lynch is currently associate director of music and organist for Trinity Church in Boston, and also tours as a concert organist. He holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Yale University and Northwestern University. Lynch’s concert organist site can be found at www.colinlynchorgan.com.

Designed at the turn of the 19th century by the storied architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, the St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a beautiful space that provides ample seating and social distancing. The event will be held in accordance with local Covid safety guidelines. 

Advance registration is appreciated, and donations can also be made via the event site: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-concert-with-organist-colin-lynch-tickets-287827699397?aff=ebdssbdestsearch   

About Masterwork Arts

In addition to the Premier Award, this year Masterwork also provided over $5,700 in grants to NY, NJ and CT-based arts organizations via its Community Arts Awards. Masterwork also provides free online dance classes and a free online series, “A Life in the Arts,” which celebrates people who have dedicated their lives to the arts. To learn more and sign up for updates and events, see: http://www.masterworkarts.org/. 

For questions or more information about the event or the Masterwork Foundation, please email masterworksarts@gmail.com. 

A Life in the Arts with Tlisza Jaurique - A Renaissance Artist for our Times

February 2022

In this interview with Mexican/Latinx multidisciplinary artist, scholar, and educator Tlisza Jaurique, we're given a retrospective of her career and the evolution of her art. This is a particularly stunning visual display. 

To view the interview, visit our YouTube channel.

Tlisza's Work: 

You may follow Tlisza on both Facebook (See: https://www.facebook.com/tlisza.jaurique ) and Instagram.

Tlsza's work has been presented in a number of major museums and in private collections, but one way to experience her work as a muralist is to visit La Barca Cantina, New York City's first and only Mexican restaurant. Find out more here: www.labarcacantina.com    

What's Next for Tlisza: 

• Over the summer Tlisza will be working with the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa. Find our more here: www.figgeartmuseum.org
• This coming Fall Tlisza and her husband, Marcus Zillioux, will have a duo exhibit at Unison Arts in New Paltz, New York. You can find out more about Unison Arts here: www.unisonarts.org  

We're grateful Tlisza shared her story and artistry with us! Thank you!

About ‘A Life in the Arts’ 

 'A Life in the Arts' is a Zoom series celebrating those who have committed their lives to excellence in the arts. Our hope is that this series also illuminates how to navigate a career in the arts to up and coming artists. Interviews are conducted by Masterwork Board member Joseph White and run a half hour, with fifteen minutes dedicated to a q and a with attendees. Join us - or watch our sessions on the Masterwork Youtube Channel!  

About Masterwork Arts  

Masterwork Music & Art Foundation was founded more than 60 years ago in Morristown, New Jersey. The Founders, Shirley May and David Randolph, were passionate about the arts and understood the importance of nurturing developing artists, and making the arts available to a broad audience. Generations of artists were influenced by the years of concerts, theatrical events and fine arts projects Masterwork Arts funded and produced.   Today, Masterwork Arts supports excellence in the arts through a variety of grant offerings and awards, a zoom series on 'A Life in the Arts' and virtual classes that are open to all. To find out more, sign up for our enewsletter on www.masterworkarts.org.