Mic Herring, Executive Director
In January 2025, Mic Herring was appointed as Musical Masterworks’ inaugural Executive Director. With extensive experience in artist management, chamber music, and non-profit leadership, Mic brings a distinguished career to this role of leading Musical Masterworks into an exciting new era. He currently also serves as the Senior Director of Booking & Operations for Young Concert Artists in New York City, further demonstrating his deep expertise in the arts.
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Robbin Myers, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
For the past decade, Robbin has served as the Director of Marketing for Musical Masterworks, significantly contributing to the organization’s growth and development, including the launch of its MMModern contemporary chamber music series. With over 35 years of experience in marketing across various sectors—ranging from financial services to small businesses and non-profits—her seasoned expertise continues to shape the organization’s outreach and impact.
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Board of Directors
Alden Rockwell Murphy, President
Monique Foster, Vice President
Kathleen Maher, Vice President
David Thompson, Treasurer
Gigi Becker, Secretary
Cynthia Beglin
Richard Cersosimo
Karen L. Kaestle
Jan MacGregor
Margaret C. Mummert
Mary V. Seidner
Margaret O’Shea
Sara Slayton Qua
Thomas D. Wing
Manon Zumbaum
Founding Directors
David W. Dangremond
John A. Hargraves
Alden Rockwell Murphy
James B. Murphy II
Honorary Directors
Jonathan Butler
Frederick Crosby
Lee Pritchard
George Willauer
OUR MISSION & VISION
Musical Masterworks brings to Southern New England world-class chamber music performances and community engagement programs which attract, entertain, and educate diverse audiences.
The vision of Musical Masterworks is to be the leader and premier resource of chamber music opportunities in Southern New England. The guiding
- Performances or events of the highest artistic quality.
- Enhanced audience appreciation and understanding of chamber music.
- Opportunities to encourage future generations in engagement with chamber music.
- Presentations of music by composers and performers, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion,for audiences and students of all cultures and backgrounds.
Musical Masterworks’ Community Engagement Program (CEP) is entering its fourth year of growth, continuing to bring meaningful musical experiences to communities across Connecticut. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support that makes this work possible.
We’re thrilled to welcome back Decoda as our Ensemble-in-Residence for Community Engagement, and to continue expanding our outreach in partnership with a diverse range of community organizations.
In early 2024, we launched a five-day creative songwriting workshop at Cheshire Correctional Institution (CCI); a powerful pilot program that had a profound impact on everyone involved. Over just four days, incarcerated participants composed six original songs, fostering trust, connection, and a renewed sense of purpose in an environment where such opportunities are rare.
Following the success of this pilot, we are expanded our work at CCI with two week-long residencies planned for the fall and winter. We’re also proud to continue our partnerships with Fitch High School and Waterford Country School, where our work has flourished over the past three years. In addition, we’re excited to return to Vista Life Innovations, where participants’ creativity and enthusiasm have made our collaborative songwriting sessions unforgettable.
Looking ahead, we set an ambitious goal this season: to raise an additional $25,000 in support of the CEP. We’re thrilled to share that we’ve achieved this milestone, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our Board and community partners. As the program continues to grow, so too does the need to expand our fundraising capacity. This momentum strengthens our foundation and prepares us to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
We remain deeply committed to using music as a powerful force for connection, empowerment, and transformation.
This November, we invite audiences to celebrate through music with Decoda’s internationally-acclaimed artists and educators Catherine Gregory (flute), Clara Lyon (violin), George Meyer (violin/viola/composition), and Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir (cello). Across a weeklong residency and two performances, Decoda will bring together students, families, and music lovers for programs that blend classical mastery with contemporary imagination.
Community Concerts for FREE in November!
In addition to the residency programs, enjoy two FREE performances:
Family Concert
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Old Lyme
Explore tempo, dynamics, and tone through hands-on music-making, compose a new anthem of thanks and leave with creative prompts to continue the musical celebration at home during the holiday week.
Formal Concert & Reception
Sunday, November 23, 2025 from 2:00–3:30 PM
Saint Ann’s Church, Old Lyme
The program will explore music for flute and strings, spanning from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to vibrant contemporary reimaginings that include a fiddle-inspired duo by Decoda’s own George Meyer, and the radiant Maombi Asante (“Prayer of Thanks”), by flutist-composer Valerie Coleman, whose last collaboration with Decoda earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. You’ll also hear new compositions developed during Decoda’s just-completed residency at shoreline schools. The concert will be followed by a light reception to meet the musicians and neighbors.
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“Thank you for this life changing experience. I will never be the same. My heart just grew larger because of workshop.” - Cheshire Correctional Institute Inmate
OUR HISTORY
The recipe for Musical Masterworks included a savoyard couple, a small museum known as the site of an early-20th-century art colony, and the unconconventional acoustic of a country church.
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