Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the Industry

Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the IndustryMusic Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the IndustryMusic Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the IndustryMusic Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the Industry
  • Home
  • Meet the Music Mavens
  • Order the Book
  • About the Authors
  • Book News & Events
  • Readers' Resources
  • Educator Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Kaoly Asano
  • Maria Elisa Ayerbe
  • Katarina Benzova
  • Regina Carter
  • Janet Dacal
  • Sylvia Massy
  • Nami Melumad
  • Lia Mice
  • Kaila Mullady
  • Nova Wav
  • Valérie Sainte-Agathe
  • Macy Schmidt
  • Kate Schutt
  • Joanne Shenandoah
  • Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ

Click here to order the book.

Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the Industry

Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the IndustryMusic Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the IndustryMusic Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the Industry
  • Home
  • Meet the Music Mavens
  • Order the Book
  • About the Authors
  • Book News & Events
  • Readers' Resources
  • Educator Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Kaoly Asano
  • Maria Elisa Ayerbe
  • Katarina Benzova
  • Regina Carter
  • Janet Dacal
  • Sylvia Massy
  • Nami Melumad
  • Lia Mice
  • Kaila Mullady
  • Nova Wav
  • Valérie Sainte-Agathe
  • Macy Schmidt
  • Kate Schutt
  • Joanne Shenandoah
  • Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ

“It was really a mission of mine to assemble an orchestra [The Broadway Sinfonietta] of majority female, BIPOC players ... to create a dynamic and a space where everyone feels taken care of, comfortable, supported, and excited to make music.”


Macy Schmidt, Orchestrator, Music Director, Producer

Chapter 1 - Macy Schmidt: Orchestrating Equity

     When Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical (based on the Dis‐ ney animated film Ratatouille) began streaming on January 1, 2021, online viewers were treated to something rare. Every musician was female, and most were women of color. The Broadway Sinfonietta, the masterful orchestra that accompa‐ nied the musical, struck a chord with all who saw and heard it.

     The Sinfonietta’s founder, Macy Schmidt, watched the show from her Manhattan apartment. Ten years earlier she had entered high school unable to read music. Now, barely out of college, she had not only founded her own orchestra, but she had also written the orchestrations they were playing.

     While Ratatouille streamed, Macy’s social media feeds blew up. People were filled with hope by the sight and sound of the Sinfonietta.....

      ...Macy had started The Broadway Sinfonietta in response to inequities she had witnessed as a woman of color working in musical theater. Now, with Ratatouille, her activism had reached 350,000 strangers, and many were reaching back....

    

Named to the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Music List, New York-based musical theatre orchestrator, music director, producer, and orchestra leader Macy Schmidt is the youngest of our Music Mavens, yet her accomplishments are extraordinary. 


(How did the 14‐year‐old who couldn’t read music come so far by age 23? Read Macy's story in Music Mavens.)

Photo Gallery

Macy Schmidt

Photo by Em Char Productions


In addition to being an orchestrator, Macy holds an accomplished resumé as a Music Director. Most recently, she has been providing Creative Music Direction to Broadway stars Adrienne Warren and Solea Pfeiffer on their solo performance careers. She has worked with renowned Tony Award-winning artists — from performing with Kelli O’Hara at the nationally televised twentieth anniversary 9/11  memorial concert, to music directing numerous Broadway benefits.

    Video

    "You're Gonna Hear From Me" | The Broadway Sinfonietta featuring Solea Pfeiffer

    The Broadway Sinfonietta is an all female-identifying, majority women-of-color orchestral collective founded by Macy Schmidt. Their mission is to support the existence, excellence, and equity of female BIPOC musicians, orchestrators, and contractors in the Broadway industry.  

    Original Music & Lyrics by André & Dory Previn. Used with permission.

    Credits: Orchestration by Macy Schmidt | Vocals: Solea Pfeiffer |Piccolo/Flute: Adrienne Baker | Flute: Coreisa Janelle Lee | Clarinet: Patricia Billings | Bass Clarinet: Nicole DeMaio  | French Horn: Kyra Sims | Trumpets: Lessie Vonner, Jackie Coleman | Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Hitomi Garcia | Bass: Julia Adamy | Drums: Elena Bonomo | Percussion: Yuri Yamashita | Violins: Tomoko Akaboshi, Lady Jess | Viola: Maria Im | Cello: Marika Hughes | Harp: Elizabeth Steiner.  Additional credits appear on the videos's YouTube page.

    Here Comes the Change | Inauguration Eve | The Broadway Sinfonietta featuring Shoba Narayan

    "Here Comes the Change" starring Broadway’s Shoba Narayan, honoring Vice President Kamala Harris. Arranged/orchestrated by Macy Schmidt for The Broadway Sinfonietta. Presented by BroadStream, in association with Wherehouse Media, on the eve of the 2021 US presidential inauguration. Song written by Kesha Sebert, Drew Pearson, and Stephen Wrabel, used with permission.

    Summertime - Women of Color on Broadway

    Women of Color on Broadway's production of "Summertime" is a fusion of opera, jazz, and spoken word. It incorporates a dance montage reflecting the interdependent mother-daughter relationship that is the backbone of African-American culture.  Sponsored by MAC Cosmetics, "Summertime" premiered on Monday February 1st, 2021 on Playbill.com in celebration of Black History Month. 


    Orchestrator: Macy Schmidt | Orchestra: The Broadway Sinfonietta | Produced by Victoria Velazquez | Directed by Alexia Sielo Velazquez  | Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward, and Dorothy Heyward| Composition by George Gershwin | Poem by Ayanna Fowler

    Complete Soundtrack for Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, Orchestrated by Macy Schmidt

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, writing content for an imagined Ratatouille musical captured the imaginations of bored musical theater creatives on TikTok. They posted songs, costume ideas, even a digital, downloadable theater Playbill. In December 2020, Disney greenlighted Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, a one-time benefit performance using TikTokers’ creations. The benefit, streamed by 350,000 households in early January 2021, raised $2 million to help unemployed actors. Macy Schmidt orchestrated the music and The Broadway Sinfonietta accompanied the cast.


    Tracks:  0:00  Overture  •  1:29  Anyone Can Cook   •  5:03  Trash is our Treasure •  8:42  I Knew I Smelled a Rat (Prologue)  •  9:35  Remember My Name  • 12:53  Anyone Can Cook (Reprise)  • 14:46  Kitchen Tango  • 17:52  The Rat's Way Of Life  •  21:14  I Knew I Smelled a Rat  •  24:37  Ratatouille   •  26:48  Finale  •  29:03  Curtain Call  •  31:30  Incidental Music


    The Cast: Tituss Burgess - Remy | Alfredo Linguini - Andrew Barth Feldman | Colette Tatou - Ashley Park  | Chef Skinner - Mary Testa | Django - Wayne Brady | Emile - Adam Lambert | Auguste Gusteau - Kevin Chamberlain | Anton Ego - André De Shields | Mabel - Priscilla Lopez | Young Anton Ego - Owen Anthony Tabaka.  Credits: Director: Lucy Moss | Composer: RJ Christian | Music Coordination: Emily Marshall and Macy Schmidt | Audio produced, mixed, and mastered: Michael J Moritz Jr.  | Casting: Taylor Williams | C.S.A. Executive Producers: Jeremy O. Harris, Michael Breslin, Patrick Foley

    "Hope" from She Persisted: The Musical

    She Persisted: The Musical was adapted from the book written by Chelsea Clinton and Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger.

    Music Supervision by Macy Schmidt | Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma |Directed & Choreographed by MK Lawson | This scene features Cynthia Nesbit, Amber Jaunai, and cast.

    New Musical "Ride" | First listen

    The titular track from new musical RIDE which opened at the Charing Cross Theatre in London's West End in August 2022. Set in 1895, this world premiere musical follows Annie Londonderry, who returns to America after becoming the first woman to bicycle around the world. The song is performed by Liv Andrusier as Annie Londonderry. Orchestrations by Macy Schmidt. Orchestra: The Broadway Sinfonietta.

    "It Starts With Me" | The Broadway Sinfonietta featuring Lianah Sta. Ana

    "It Starts With Me" is an original song commission for the 2021 Atlantic Festival, with music by Daniel Mertzlufft and lyrics by Kate Leonard, sung by Broadway's Lianah Sta. Ana and performed by The Broadway Sinfonietta.

    Credits:  Orchestrator, Conductor: Macy Schmidt | Vocals: Lianah Sta. Ana | Flutes: Adrienne Baker, Coreisa Janelle Lee | Clarinet: Patricia Billings | Bass Clarinet: Nicole DeMaio | French Horn: Kyra Sims | Trumpets: Julie Acosta, Jackie Coleman | Trombones: Sara Jacovino, Hitomi Garcia | Violins: Maria Im, Chiara Fasi | Viola: Tia Allen | Cello: Susan Mandel | Harp: Elizabeth Steiner | Drums: Elena Bonomo | Bass: Julia Adamy | Music Producers: Macy Schmidt, Emily Marshall, & Daniel Mertzlufft | Orchestra Recording Engineer: Anthony "Rocky" Gallo | Vocal Recording Engineer: Ng Jun Yang | Mixing Engineer: Angie Teo | Videographer: Rebecca Michelson | Creative Directors: Leah Vicencio, Macy Schmidt | Video Editor: Leah Vicencio | Production Coordinator: Emma Slotabec 

    Links

    The Broadway Sinfonietta

    The Broadway Sinfonietta

    The Broadway Sinfonietta

    Visit The Broadway Sinfonietta's website to learn more.

    Macy Schmidt's Website

    The Broadway Sinfonietta

    The Broadway Sinfonietta

    Visit Macy Schmidt's website for the latest news and media.

    Macy's Instagram

    The Broadway Sinfonietta

    Macy's Instagram

    Keep up with Macy and the Broadway Sinfonietta in NYC on Macy's IG feed.

    • Meet the Music Mavens
    • Order the Book
    • Contact Us

    Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the Industry

    Book Published by Chicago Review Press

    Audios & videos are artists' intellectual property

    Copyright ©2023 ASHLEY WALKER & MAUREEN CHARLES • All Rights Reserved.

    This website uses cookies.

    We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

    DeclineAccept