Martha L. Hisey

1941 - 2022

Martha L. Hisey
October 1, 1941 - June 21, 2022
Martha Louise Hisey, 80, passed away peacefully in New Haven, CT, after a brief illness on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Born October 1 in Connellsville, PA, Martha is the daughter of Esther and Reverend Merrill Cadwell.
She grew up in Warren, Ohio, where her father was the United Church of Christ pastor. She attended Hiram College and completed her Master's Degree in Piano Performance at the Indiana University Indian in Bloomington.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents and Her brother Robert Cadwell of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Martha is survived by her husband of 52 years James Hisey II, their son Christopher and his wife Heather Fairfhild Hisey, and Four grandchildren, Lauren, Alex, Grace, and James.
Matha was on the staff of the Interlochen Arts Academy and the National Music Camp.
Martha was associated with the Westport School of Music for 47 years, where she touched the lives of hundreds of her students and faculty.
Martha taught at the school and then served as the Assistant Director from 1970-1985. She has named Director of the School in '85, a position she held until her retirement in 2017.
While at the WSM, she introduced the teaching artists program to assure access to professional musicians for students at the school who taught and gave master classes. She also began a Chamber Music Program, Musicworks Music Therapy, and Kindermusic, working tirelessly to promote and further the school's mission.
Martha was an excellent pianist. In the early years, she often performed with Pianist Richard Gregor.
She was a sought-after accompanist and accompanied the Westport Madrigal Singers for many years.
Martha was the organist at the United Methodist Church for more than 17 years. She also founded and conducted the Bell Choir at the church.
Martha was active in musical organizations. She was program director of the South Shore Music Club, where she engaged young artists at the beginning of their careers. Including New York Philharmonic cellist Carter Bray.
Martha performed concerts throughout Southern Connecticut as a pianist, collaborator, and soloist.
Martha loved to play bridge. And was a member of the United Methodist duplicate bridge group for many years.
Martha touched thousands of lives, and her music will be missed.
Her service will be on July 2 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, 49 Weston Rd., Westport. Instead of flowers, donations can be made online to the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras at https://gctyo.org/support/donate/