About Judy

Judy began her music career at the early age of 4, inspired by her father Peter Martyn (originally Martyniuk, Ukrainian) who played piano was a band leader, violinist, saxophonist and music teacher in Detroit Michigan. It was apparent at an early age that Judy would follow in her father’s footsteps in pursuing a professional music career.  

Judy’s Ukrainian background introduced her to dance along with learning to play accordion. She became a serious student of piano under the guidance of  professional pianist, composer and arranger Matt Michaels, music professor at Wayne State University,  who worked with and accompanied many great musicians. While Judy was balancing a demanding schedule of  Ukrainian festivals, playing clarinet in the school band, she also played piano in a local band and several variety dance bands for school dances, weddings and parties in the Detroit area.

Her varied background in classical, jazz and popular music provided her the opportunity to earn a scholarship to the University of Texas, Arlington, to study jazz and classical music while performing with the UTA Jazz Band. While in school in Texas she kept herself busy learning every aspect of the music business while accompanying dance classes  at Ms Persis Dance Studio in Arlington, TX. While at UTA she had the opportunity to be the piano accompanist for musicals presented by the UTA Drama Department and Gown Town Theatre in Arlington as well as performing for Theatre Arlington. After graduation she received a graduate assistantship to obtain her Masters in piano performance from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. She accompanied for both student and faculty recitals as well as performing with the TCU Jazz Band. She had the honor to work several years as a piano accompanist for private student classes of the late vocal coach Dr. John Large. She also accompanied for the TCU Dance Department and Opera Workshop. While in her last year at TCU she had the opportunity to demonstrate her accompanying skills by being asked to assist on piano for a Van Cliburn workshop class.

Judy soon began working as a pianist, keyboardist and accordionist for Fort Worth’s Broadway musical theatre “Casa Manana.” There she learned scores of Broadway musicals such as, Show Boat, Fiddler On The Roof, Oklahoma, Evita, South Pacific, The Sound Of Music, Camelot and a score of others.

Her talents led her to perform a piano duo with the Fort Worth Symphony and for several years became the dance class accompanist for the Fort Worth Ballet. While at The Fort Worth Ballet she had the opportunity to work with Fort Worth’s Ballet Artistic Director Paul Mejia, and the quintessential Balanchine ballerina Suzanne Farrell of the New York City  Ballet, who was the Artistic Adviser for the Fort Worth Ballet.

While studying and gaining confidence and experience in music, Judy kept up her own lyrical expression in music by playing with local jazz & variety groups. Moving to Atlanta in 1989, she immediately put her talents to work at the Atlanta Ballet as a class pianist, and at the Fox Theatre as well. She continued her piano accompanying skills at Georgia State University Dance & Music Departments, the Emory Dance Company and The Gwinnett Festival Singers. She has accompanied auditions for the American Musical and Dramatic Academy,  New York and the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association.

She regularly plays solo piano at many Atlanta area special event venues. Judy has done professional musical recordings and TV commercials as well. She has completed several profession CD’s titled “Piano Artistry”, “Piano Romance”, “Simply Christmas” and is currently working on several other piano projects. Her CD’s are distributed through Class Act Music Records and are available in many stores where fine music is sold.

Judy has had many professional affiliations while in Atlanta and has organized The Class Act Band under her leadership which has been busy performing at many Private Parties, Balls, Charity Fund Raisers, Conventions, Corporate Events and numerous Special Events. Among her most memorable experiences were performing for the ‘94 Superbowl benefit for the hungry, “The Taste Of The NFL,” sponsored by Coca-Cola. Class Act Band performed for the Tenth Anniversary of the High  Museum of Art at the Woodruff Arts Center, “The Taste of the Nation”, Peachtree City Rotary Club, Dunwoody Rotary Club, Egleston Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, The American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,  The Junior League, Southeastern Flower Show, Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta Opera Ball, The Peach Drop, The Atlanta Falcons, Fernbank Museum Gala, The Atlanta Zoo, Visting Nurse Atlanta, AIDS Walk Atlanta, Meals on Wheels Gala, Emory University Gala and many others.

You will find Judy and The Class Act Band performing regularly at area country clubs, hotels, event facilities and conference centers where elegant dinner music and lively dance music is a must. You’ll also find Judy in and around Atlanta performing music from her heart for children and senior groups.

Judy is the keyboardist for  “The Class Act Band,” Class Act Band a versatile variety band noted for great dinner, dance and party music for special events.