First Congregational United Church of Christ

Payton Dziekan is an educator, double bassist, and contralto based in Rochester, New York. Payton is a proud public school educator, directing the DeWitt Road Elementary School orchestras and supporting students as a low-string specialist at Willink Middle School in Webster, NY. She also serves as Director of Music Ministries at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Fairport, NY.

Payton’s work focuses primarily on providing equitable and accessible participation in music for learners and musicians of all backgrounds and abilities.

As a performer, Payton has enjoyed a varied career of orchestral, choral, chamber music and solo performances. Most recently, Payton served as principal bassist of the Center Stage Pops Orchestra (Rochester NY) and Eastman Music Educators Wind Ensemble. She is a frequent member of pit orchestras for local theatre productions, including the March 2025 Webster, NY premier of Hadestown. Payton is also an active contralto, and was most recently featured as a soloist in Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Rochester.

Payton is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, studying music education, double bass and vocal performance. Her previous teachers include Owen Lee of the Cincinnati Symphony, Curtis Burris of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Charlie Nilles of the National Symphony Orchestra.

In her spare time, Payton is an avid connoisseur of iced lattes and funky socks. She loves to spend time in nature and with her loved ones, write songs, perform with her bluegrass band and take far too many photos of her one-eyed cat, Morris.