Maestra • For the women who make the music in the musical theater industry.

Biography

I’m a collaborative pianist, music director, rep coach, composer, writer, and illustrator. I have an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU, and I've received fellowships and residencies from the Johnny Mercer Songwriting Project, the MacDowell Colony, and the Goodspeed Writers Colony. I've had work featured at Barrington Stage, the Hangar Theatre, the Aspen Musical Festival, and many other venues. I’ve been a Lecturer/Music Director at the Juilliard School, Texas State University, and Ithaca College, and I’m on the faculty of the Performing Arts Project. I work regularly as a rehearsal pianist, audition pianist, accompanist, and pit musician.

Recent NYC credits include:
The Lehman Trilogy (Broadway, standby onstage pianist)
Trevor: A New Musical (Off-Broadway, rehearsal pianist)
Blood Moon (Prototype Opera Festival, rehearsal pianist)
Salaam Medina (Playwrights Horizons reading, music director)

“I consider [Em] a world-class sight-reader with an innate understanding of how something new should be played and approached dramatically. I watched her tackle music of every kind, from hip-hop to opera – and she hit the nail on the head every time with her sympathetic ear and formidable technical ability." -- Mel Marvin

"[Em's] authentic, creative willingness and talent is almost...embarrassing. She is a truly collaborative soul." --Gavin Creel