Maestra Music

10/05/2026

Want to participate in our December First Takes event? We are seeking Composers, Arrangers, Orchestrators, Copyists, Music Directors, and Instrumentalists (woodwinds and ww doublers, trumpet, french horn, trombone/bass trombone, violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, drums, piano) to take part in our next in-person Maestra First Takes session on Monday, December 14th from 2-5pm ET in New York City. First Takes is an exciting and supportive opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn through the reading of new songs prepared and presented by an all-Maestra/RISE music team.

This session's theme is "Happy Holidays!", and applicants are invited to submit new compositions or existing arrangements (see details below) related to *ANY* holiday– whether one in December or January, or another favorite throughout the year, i.e. Lunar New Year, Valentine's, Pi Day, National Best Friend Day, Juneteenth, International Pride Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. Any holiday!

Submissions are open until October 19th. Submissions link in comments.

09/28/2026

Calling All Prospective Mentors!

Please fill out the form (linked below) to join our mentor pool. This is the group we draw from when pairing prospective mentees with mentors for the Maestra Mentorship Program. While the exact needs of each year’s participants differs, we do our best to make as many pairings as possible each year.

Please submit the form by 5pm ET on Friday, October 2nd, 2026.

Mentor Intake Form linked in bio. Our mentees will be prospective musical theater music directors, conductors, orchestrators, arrangers, copyists, composers, lyricists, instrumentalists, sound designers, electronic music programmers, and rehearsal pianists. Please help us find their mentors!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd65lcNsjhclyOLsrk6U0QySn4kl5mDl1gsDwgzROpJ9qBHpA/viewform

09/22/2026

We have been made aware that scammers are impersonating Maestra staff and board members and emailing our directory members to try to scam you out of money. Anytime you receive an email that seems unusual or out-of-the-blue, check the sender email address and make sure it is correct. Maestra staff and board will never ask you to purchase gift cards, wire money, or provide any sensitive information. If you are unsure, please email one of us at a known email address to verify.

09/16/2026

Congratulations and welcome to one of our two fall interns, Jada Campbell, who joins us from BerkleeNYC. We’re so excited to get to know you!

09/04/2026

Here's a photo celebrating Nina Osso’s final committee meeting as a co-moderator for Student Maestras. She served with Maestra for two years, and we wish her the best of luck!

Pictured: (top) Sonya Hayden and Meg Zervoulis Bate of Maestra Education, and Lily Mamminga and Nina Osso of Student Maestras.

09/01/2026

Calling all prospective mentees: Submissions are open for the 2026-27 Maestra Mentorship Program!

The Maestra Mentorship is a six-month hybrid partnering program which connects aspiring theater professionals (ages 18+) with individuals currently working in the musical theater industry. Prospective musical theater music directors, conductors, orchestrators, arrangers, copyists, composers, lyricists, instrumentalists, sound designers, electronic music programmers, and rehearsal pianists are all encouraged to participate. This program is offered free of charge, and we welcome prospective mentees from around the world.

We are currently accepting submissions from prospective mentees for the 2026-27 Mentorship Program. Deadline for submissions is 5pm EDT on Friday, October 2nd, 2026.

Info here. https://forms.gle/BhkhV4SMgmdywjpj7

08/20/2026

Maestra Board member Christie Chiles Twillie was in NYC from her hometown of Chicago, so we made her come down to Greenwich Village to join us for dinner after First Takes on Monday night. What a great day of celebrating the greater Maestra community at work. (Not pictured: Paige Price, who had to leave early to see a show.)

08/13/2026

One of Maestra's biggest programs is FIRST TAKES, and it happens three times each year. Want to see our work in action? Join us on Monday, 2-5 pm, in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. RSVP required. (Link in bio.)

First Takes is a curated reading session and master class that gives opportunities to composers, lyricists, conductors, orchestrators, copyists, and instrumentalists to generate and rehearse new music in a supportive and unpressured environment. Offered three times a year (April, August, and December), First Takes creates a pipeline for emerging Maestras and Broadway veterans to be in dialogue with each other through music and community.

RSVP here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/mftcssba/event/august-first-takes

08/08/2026

08/01/2026

Sometime in July we quietly crossed the 3000 member mark in the Maestra Directory. What a community of theatrical musicians, bookwriters, and lyricists this is! Please check out the Maestra Directory, and while you're at it, take a look at our Directory, as well. Thank you to everyone who is part of this wonderful network, either by participating directly, by viewing, or by supporting.