Caroline Bamforth – PresidentCaroline Bamforth joined the Sacramento Master Singers in 2015. With a passion for the arts as both a performer and administrator, Caroline holds her BA in Music from UC Davis and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Arts Education from California State University Sacramento. Caroline is an experienced event planner and holds her Certified Meeting Professional and Certificate in Meeting Management credentials. She worked for six years in a variety of roles at the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) and returned in 2016 as a contractor to manage the organization’s Annual Conference. She holds a full-time job as Events and Programs Manager for the Department of Viticulture & Enology at UC Davis.
Chris Dainard – Vice PresidentChris Dainard joined the Sacramento Master Singers back in 2008, and has never found the joy of singing with friends to B♭. Chris has been a public servant for the State of California for over 15 years, and is passionate about providing outreach and guidance to non-profit and community-based organizations, both personally and professionally. Chris previously served on the Board as Choral Liaison and Secretary, and is elated to serve the Board once again as Vice President.
Chris Goff – TreasurerChris Goff joined the Sacramento Master Singers in 2005. He sang in college at the University of Texas under Craig Hella Johnson, and in graduate school at UC Santa Cruz under Nicole Paiement. After a three-year stint with the Arizona Repertory Singers in Tucson under Jeffrey Jahn, Chris got a job in Stockton at the University of the Pacific where he is currently the chair of the mathematics department. This is his first term serving on the board.
Carol joined the Camelia Concert Chorale in 1984. She recounts that “the group name changed to the Sacramento Master Singers in 1984 on a night when I had missed rehearsal. It was rather odd to arrive at my next rehearsal to find out the name was entirely different!” Thus began her seven years as a leader of the SMS alto section and frequent soloist in SMS concerts. She is a retired music educator with a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance and a Master of Arts in education. Her studies focused on opera, but her first love has continued to be choral music. Carol’s numerous experiences as a soloist and choral singer include performances under Roger Wagner in the Southern California Honor Choir and under Seiji Okawa and Edo de Waart with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Carol’s many years as a choral singer, including her time with SMS, help her to provide insightful feedback and guidance as a Governing Board Member.
Maddy Walton-Hadlock – Choral LiaisonMaddy has sung in the choir’s soprano section since 2019, and she previously wrangled sheet music as the SMS librarian. By day, Maddy is a librarian supporting libraries at the local, state, and national levels; by night, she measures life in pages read, miles walked, songs sung (often to her dog), and a healthy dose of family chaos.
Dr. Brett Epperson – Artistic DirectorBrett D. Epperson joined the Sacramento Master Singers as Artistic Director in July 2026. A recent California transplant, Epperson joined the faculty at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in the fall of 2025. As Assistant Professor of Music – Choral Conducting, he conducts two choral ensembles, Pacific Singers and University Chorus, as well as teaching coursework in conducting, music education, and functional voice. Epperson comes to California from Hastings, Nebraska, where he served as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Hastings College and Director of the Chancel Choir and Langenberg Concert Series at First Presbyterian Church.
Prior to his career in higher education, Epperson was a public school music educator for nearly a decade, leading high school choral programs in Iowa and Nebraska. Under his leadership of East High School in Lincoln, the choral program tripled in enrollment, East Singers was selected as a featured concert choir at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conference, and Epperson was the recipient of a Lincoln Public Schools Inspire Award for implementing an Adaptive Music program for special learners. Epperson has also served as Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Doane University (Nebraska), Artistic Director-Conductor of the Lincoln Lutheran Choir, and Chorus Master for Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre.
Epperson is active as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and collaborative keyboardist, with appearances across the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Kenya, Mexico, and Japan. As a chorister, he has sung with ensembles such as the South Dakota Chorale, Opera Omaha, sounding light (Detroit), Spoleto Festival USA Chorus (Charleston, South Carolina) and Seraphic Fire (Miami). As a soloist, he has been featured in choral-orchestral performances across the Midwest and South. Epperson has a growing compositional career, with commissions and performances of choral works across the United States. Outside of teaching and music-making, Epperson enjoys cooking, reading, biking, and connecting with friends and family.
Epperson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Luther College (Decorah, IA), a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education-Choral Conducting from Florida State University.
Dr. Brett Judson – AccompanistDr. Brett Alan Judson is a conductor, organist, pianist, and educator whose career bridges choral leadership and collaborative keyboard performance. He currently serves as Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Sacramento, where he conducts the University Chorale and Choral Union, teaches music theory and conducting, and mentors emerging conductors and music educators.
An accomplished keyboard artist, Dr. Judson has performed extensively as an organist, pianist, and accompanist throughout the United States and abroad. A recipient of the Barnes Award for Excellence in Pipe Organ from the Eastman School of Music and a finalist in the Poister Organ Competition, he has appeared on the internationally televised Hour of Power and the nationally syndicated radio program Pipedreams. His performances have taken him to notable venues including Grace Cathedral (San Francisco), St. Thomas Church and St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York City), Central Synagogue (Manhattan), and the cathedrals of Bergen and Stavanger, Norway.
As a collaborative musician, Dr. Judson is recognized for his artistry at both the piano and organ, partnering with singers, choirs, conductors, and orchestras in rehearsal and performance. His experience spans sacred music, large-scale choral-orchestral repertoire, vocal coaching, festival accompaniment, and professional choral organizations throughout California.
Dr. Judson holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Eastman School of Music, and The Hartt School, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting. He is thrilled to join the Sacramento Master Singers as Collaborative Pianist.
Emily Carbrey – Assistant ConductorEmily began singing with the Sacramento Master Singers in 2009, three years after moving to California from her hometown in upstate New York. While in NYS, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Binghamton University. Emily has enjoyed her experiences conducting various college and community groups, but she finds nothing can surpass the feeling of actually being one of many voices striving together to create magic. She feels incredibly fortunate to be a part of SMS as both soprano section leader and assistant director, and she continues to marvel at the consistently high caliber of the group.
Though Emily spends her days working as an operations officer at a community bank, her evenings and weekends are filled with music in a different capacity. Emily and her husband Cameron, a professional musician, own a retail music store, El Dorado Hills Music. The couple purchased the store in 2018 and have been working diligently and harmoniously together to improve and grow the business ever since. (Naturally, you are invited to check them out at EDHMusic.com.)
Julia Dean – Patron Services CoordinatorJulia Dean has worked in the field of arts administration for the last five years, after graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Choral Music. A musician since her childhood, Julia is motivated by making art come to life. Though she chose a career path outside of music performance, she regularly lends her voice to her local church choir and enjoys singing for pleasure whenever she has the opportunity. Julia and her husband live in Southern California, and outside of work, she is an adventurous home chef and baker, coffee connoisseur, and mom to a rambunctious toddler (her most challenging and rewarding job ever).
Dr. Ralph Hughes – Artistic Director LaureateDr. Ralph Hughes retired as Artistic Director of the Sacramento Master Singers in June 2026.
For 40 years, Ralph led SMS with visionary leadership, growing the choir from 15 to over 50 members and enriching our community with exceptional choral performances. Under his direction, the Sacramento Master Singers:
– Performed 293 concerts and toured internationally
– Launched a scholarship program for young choral singers
– Collaborated with renowned guest conductors
We are deeply grateful for the years Ralph’s dedication and leadership.
Librarian – Michelle Keys
Website Assistant – Kurtis Kroon
Graphic Designer – Andrew Smith
CONNECT
916.788.SING (7464)
smsbusiness@mastersingers.org
P.O. Box 15020
Sacramento, CA 95851
Sacramento Master Singers, a non-profit organization, is supported by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation, the California Arts Council, and the generous annual support of businesses and individuals.
2019 © The Sacramento Master Singers. All Rights Reserved.
