Maestra Music

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.

07/31/2026

Join us in August for First Takes, a reading session featuring an all-Maestra/RISE music team and band! We hope for it to be an exciting and supportive opportunity to connect, collaborate, learn, and share our work.

Musicians who will be playing have already been through an application process. You are being invited to hang out, listen, clap for your fellow directory members, and enjoy some snacks with us, celebrating our fabulous music-making community and continuing our First Takes program.

Date and time: Monday, August 17th, 2-5 pm
Location: West Village, Manhattan

For members of the Maestra and RISE Directories.

First come first served. Due to limited capacity, we ask that attendees only register if they are sure of their availability.

The event is free but if you are looking for ways to support Maestra and RISE, you can donate alongside your RSVP to help our programming thrive.

RSVP to join us in person: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/mftcssba/event/august-first-takes/

07/13/2026

Sharing a "Festival Creative Assistantship" opportunity from our friends at .

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival Creative Assistantship offers a distinctive opportunity for early-career professionals to participate as assistants in the development of new musicals. This program is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in musical theatre by offering early-career theatre-makers the opportunity to be part of the NAMT Festival process from start to finish.

This year, the Festival Creative Assistantship will welcome a total of sixteen Creative Assistants focused on the Directing and Music Departments. Each of the eight Festival musicals will be supported by two Creative Assistants: one Directing Assistant and one Music Assistant.

More info here: https://namt.org/festival-emerging-artists-programs/creative-assistants/

07/02/2026

We’re honored to be featured in The Giving List Women book, alongside organizations advancing women and girls across sectors. Our piece, “The Sound of the Sisterhood of Music,” highlights Maestra Music’s work to build visibility, community, and opportunity for women and nonbinary musicians in musical theatre.

06/24/2026

🚨 August First Takes application is now extended!! 🚨

If you’ve been feeling like you needed a little more time to put your application together, this is your chance! Don't miss out—submit yours today! ✨

👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTP-NFJtXMuyozjh9ocCggJ2bhGV7VPOLjGXnPkCkNrcXdzA/viewform?mc_cid=2df8d0c396&mc_eid=c59872a191

Seeking Maestra and RISE Members for SONGS FOR KIDS! (Sung by Grown-ups)!

We are seeking Composers, Arrangers, Orchestrators, Copyists, Music Directors, and Instrumentalists to take part in our in-person Maestra First Takes Session on Monday, August 17th, from 2-5pm ET.

This will be a 3-hour reading session and social gathering based in New York City and featuring an all-Maestra/RISE music team. We hope for it to be an exciting and supportive opportunity to connect, collaborate, learn, and share our work.

Submission deadline extended to 11:59pm ET on Friday, June 26th

For Members of the Maestra and RISE Directories

06/19/2026

Maestra's office will be closed today to commemorate Juneteenth.

Want to know more about Juneteenth? Here's more from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/what-juneteenth