Mary Catherine Fehrenbacher

Mac-Haydn Theatre Debut

Originally from Mississippi, she holds a Master’s of Music in piano performance from Mississippi College. She has performed as an actor, singer, pianist, and keyboardist in national and international tours and regional theatres in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Some of her recent credits include Broadway Asia’s international tour of The Sound of Music (Ensemble/Keyboard Substitute), the Lincoln Center’s national tour of My Fair Lady (Keyboard), Timberlake Playhouse’s production of The Sound of Music (Ensemble/Maria Understudy), and the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls (Sarah Standby). Mary Catherine is grateful to make her Mac-Haydn Theatre orchestra debut as a keyboardist. Love to Andrew.

Kathryn Sloat

Mac-Haydn Theatre Debut

Kathryn Sloat, “whose harp playing evoked the angels (Brooklyn Discovery),” is known for her work in opera and contemporary chamber music. She is a member of harp duo Lilac 94 with whom she recently won third prize in the International Harp Contest in Italy. Kathryn has also worked with a number of composers in bringing their music alive through initial readings and concert performances with thingNY, the New York Composers Circle, and Secret Opera. She has produced and performed in her own shows, including A Birthday Hansel for Benjamin Britten and works for the Higher Ground Festival. Kathryn has played for Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular and pit orchestras for Off-Broadway and regional theater productions including The Fantasticks, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Beast in the Jungle.

Jonah Barnett

Mac-Haydn Theatre Debut

Jonah Barnett is an active guitarist, composer, and arranger based out of NYC, Jonah received degrees in jazz studies and music composition from James Madison University in Virginia, and has just completed his Master’s degree in jazz composition from the Manhattan School of Music. Some of Jonah’s performing credits include: weekly performances at Feinstein’s 54 Below, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, The Green Room 42, the Virginia Theater Festival, Fordham University, and many others. As a composer and arranger Jonah has worked with artist such as: Ingrid Jensen, Melissa Aldana, Darcy James Argue, Emily Loesser, Jaleel Shaw, and Donny McCaslin. Jonah is excited to join Mac-Haydn’s summer season this year and to bring his musical voice to the productions!

Roles this Season

Guitar in All Shook Up
Guitar in Something Rotten
Mackenzie McCarthy

Mac-Haydn Theatre Debut

Mackenzie McCarthy is an up and coming saxophonist and woodwind doubler who recently got her Master’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. A student of Donny McCaslin, Ingrid Jensen, and Darcy James Argue, she leads groups around New York City, played all over the northeast, and even gotten to play at the infamous Birdland Jazz Club with the Grace Fox Big Band. Mackenzie has also gotten to play with Joel Frahm, John Benitez, in a big band under the direction of Jim McNeely at MSM. Originally from Granite Bay, California, Mackenzie got her undergraduate degree from CSU Sacramento, studying with Mike McMullen and Brian Landrus. She also had the opportunity to play with Wayne Bergeron.

Roles this Season

Reeds in All Shook Up
Reeds in Something Rotten
Abigail Gorsuch

Mac-Haydn Theatre Debut

Abigail Gorsuch is a rehearsal pianist, orchestrator, and music director based in Philly. Currently studying Musical Theater Accompanying at Shenendoah Conservatory, Abby has had opportunities to be a rehearsal pianist for educational and regional theater as well as arranging and orchestrating for new works. She is eager to learn all there is to know about the world of music and musical theater, and thrilled to work and meet other people who feel the same way. She would like to thank her mentor and professor, Patrick S. Brady, for his constant effort in kindling her growth, Shenandoah University for its incredible opportunities, and her Mom, Dad, and sister Courtney for being the fiercest cheerleaders in the world.

Roles this Season

Keys in Sister Act
Derek Wolfe

Derek Wolfe is a trumpet player based in the Capital District of New York. He is proficient in many styles of music including classical, jazz, afro-cuban, and pop. He performed as principal and lead trumpet in his undergraduate (Crane School of Music) and graduate school (Mead Witter School of Music) classical, jazz, and latin ensembles. Derek has subbed as principal and section trumpet with orchestras from the east coast to the midwest, including subbing as principal trumpet with The Madison Symphony under the direction of John DeMain. Derek is currently the lead trumpet in The Trojan Horns brass band which is frequently seen playing bars and music festivals in and around New York state and teaches privately in the Capital District.

Ian Weidmann

Ian Weidmann is currently pursuing his master’s degree in jazz saxophone performance at the Manhattan School of Music. In his undergrad, he spent two years as the lead alto player for the One O’ Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas and has performed extensively on flutes, clarinets, and saxophones in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In his time at North Texas, he backed world-class musicians across styles, such as Kurt Elling, Chris Potter, Allison Miller, Ignacio Berroa, Arturo Sandoval, and many others. In his free time, Ian enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and seeing shows. His previous teachers include Brad Leali, Tim McWright, Jaleel Shaw, Seok Hee Jang, and Hyunsu Yoon.

Jason Meusel

Jason Meusel is a bassist in his final year of studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is very excited to be a part of the Mac-Haydn Theatre team! He has studied both the double bass and the electric bass for 12 years. Despite most of his training being classical, Jason has found his passion playing in pit orchestras. He has performed around the East Coast and parts of the Midwest. Some of his favorite pit projects include The Scottsboro Boys, Once On This Island, and a performance of the works of Steven Flaherty at Carnegie Hall. This is Jason’s first time at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, and he is looking forward to this season!

Luis Jacome

Luis Jacome is a Drummer/Percussionist with 15 years of experience in theatre, orchestra, band, and jazz. He also has multiple years of work in audio technology, production, and instruction. During his time as a musician, he has enjoyed performing at Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Tanglewood, Beijing Concert Hall, Suntory Hall, Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, 54 Below, The DiMenna Center, Symphony Space, Fukuoka Symphony Hall, The World Expo in Yeosu, and now Mac-Haydn! Luis has had the pleasure of performing with Josh Groban, Raul Esparza, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Glenn Kotche, Montego Glover, The Martha Graham Dance Company, Sō Percussion, Tom Hewitt, Paris Barclay, Laurence O’Keefe, Renée Neufville, Bobby Previte, and more.
Luis has toured the U.S, Scotland, China, South Korea, and Japan, enjoying each unique culture and connecting through music and food.

Peter Issac
Matt Levinstein

Matt Levinstein (Associate Music Director) is a New York/Boston based MD, Conductor, Multi-Instrumentalist, Orchestrator, Keyboard Programmer, Copyist, and Educator. He is a recent Berklee College of Music Alumni (FA 23′) as a Piano Principal. He graduated with a BM in Professional Music, with concentrations in Musical Theatre Conducting, Arranging, and Music Education. Favorite show credits include Music Director for Berklee’s Broadway Band and Curtain Up (Berklee), Falsettos and You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Emerson College), CUT! (Green Room 42), Matilda the Musical (Open Fields Theatre), and Associate Music Director for Beautiful and RENT (Theatre Aspen). He is thrilled to be making his Mac-Haydn Theatre debut this summer as the Associate Music Director! Read more at mattlevinstein.com, and follow @mattlevinstein on instagram for updates!

Creative Roles this Season

Associate Music Director - West Side Story
Music Director - Sister Act
Associate Music Director - Rent
Music Director - All Shook Up
Associate Music Director - Something Rotten
Alex Arlotta

Alex couldn’t be more excited to join the MacHaydn on short notice! One moment he’s at Target buying Tide Pods (not sponsored), the next, he’s transported back to the 60’s. In addition to being a MD and keyboardists, Alex just graduated from BerkleeNYC’s masters program in Writing and Design For Musical Theatre. In addition to the student debt, Alex is releasing his first album in a few weeks titled “Gotta Start Somewhere”; available wherever you stream music come Aug-Sept 2023.

Thank you to Ben Weiss for the recommendation, and to Eric, James, Tori, John and everyone for welcoming him into the MacHaydn family. It’s been such an honor, and I hope to return! Also, shoutout to my incredible partner, Taylor! I love you!

If you think I’m cool, feel free to follow me around at: alexarlotta.com, or on Instagram: @alex.arlotta. Let’s get rockin’!

Malachi Brown

Malachi Brown (he/him) is a cellist and composer born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia. He has studied music composition and cello performance at Old Dominion University and Ithaca College. Malachi has composed for the concert stage, animation, and film thus far in his career. He incorporates many combinations of styles in his music but is always rooted in a type of neo-romantic sound.

Since 2020, Malachi has composed for four films, and has won multiple awards for And Don’t Forget I Love You which has premiered at five film festivals. Malachi is working on two films projected to release in early 2024, including an animated short. In addition to composing and cello, Malachi acts in theatre and film. He has also discovered scriptwriting, accompanying his blossoming skill in filmmaking. He currently resides in New York City.

Connor Holland

Born in Sicily, raised in Jacksonville, FL, Connor Holland is a trumpet player and educator moving to New York City. Self taught flautist, pianist, and harmonica player, Connor is a versatile performer frequently playing trumpet in orchestras and jazz ensembles. In 2020, he made his solo debut performing the (Mac) Haydn Trumpet Concerto as winner of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Currently most active as a chamber musician, he is a member of Amo Brass, which was awarded 1st place for Brass Quintet at both the Plowman and Fischoff Chamber Music Competitions this spring. Most recently serving as the Morse Post-Graduate Fellow for the Yale Music in Schools Initiative, he also completed two masters degrees at the Yale School of Music (MM ’21/MMA ’22).

Megan Trach

Megan Trach is thrilled to join the Mac-Haydn this summer! They played the Reed 1 book for the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof from April 2022-May 2023. Playing for theater is one of their great joys in life and they hope to continue to play in pit orchestras for years to come. Megan received their MM in flute performance from the New England Conservatory in 2022 and their BA from Barnard College of Columbia University in 2020, where they majored in music and minored in environmental science. At NEC, they won the Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition on piccolo; they are also a YoungArts winner for classical piccolo. When they’re not practicing or performing, you can find them playing word games, listening to showtunes, or doing overly-complicated nail art. Enjoy the show!

Max Caserta

Max Caserta is a professional guitarist based out of Bridgeport, CT. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Western Connecticut State University in 2020 with a B.S. in Music Education. Max is well versed in many styles including jazz, funk, rock, rnb, soul, gospel and theater. He has been performing as a professional for 10 years locally, nationally and internationally. These performances have been with international cruise line Holland America, off-Broadway musicals, nationally touring drum corps, and various music venues around CT, NY and NJ. This will be Max’s second year in a row working at the MacHaydn theater. It was a great experience last year and he is excited to be back again this year!

Roles this Season

Guitar in Sister Act
Guitar in Rent
Peter Isaac

Peter Charles Isaac is a consument purveyor of musical styles on Trombone & Bass Trombone. A Rochester NY native, (BM – SUNY Fredonia, MA – Purchase Conservatory) Peter has played in many theater houses and jazz clubs across the world. In New York – Minton’s, Carnegie Hall, Swing 46 – to New Orleans – Royal Frenchman, Spotted Cat, Bourbon ‘O’ bar, but he currently lives in Chicago, where you can catch him singing and playing around the city. A two-time International touring theater musician (“Charlie & The Chocolate Factory”, “Elf”) Peter has had his fair share of the theater scene, and is looking forward to playing trombone in 42nd St. at Mac-Haydn this season. Peter is excited to be in beautiful Upstate NY this summer !!

Emily Davies

Hailing from the Kansas City area with Nashville as her adopted home for two decades, New York City based artist Emily Davies’ style has been fueled by KC’s jazz, Nashville’s Country / Americana, and the deep roots of NYC’s Harlem Renaissance jazz scene. In Nashville, Emily performed with a diverse group of musicians, from rock band Audra and the Antidote to Americana sensation Runaway Home. She also performed with various ensembles at the Nashville Jazz Workshop and with a revolving door of Music City’s singer-songwriters. Emily graduated with a B.M. in Bass Guitar from Belmont University and also holds an M.M. in Jazz Performance / Bass from NYU Steinhardt. Emily has been an adjunct electric bass instructor at NYU and was recently in the Northern Stage production of Spring Awakening. She continues to perform at NYC venues such as 54 Below and Green Room 42. www.emilydaviesbass.com

Sarah Tompkins

Sarah is very excited to be joining Mac Haydn for this summer season! She is fluent in a variety of styles including rock, jazz, r&b/hip-hop, Afro-Cuban/Brazilian and Classical. For the last couple of years Sarah has performed as a theatre musician on the Norwegian Breakaway for The Broadway musicals Six and Burn The Floor. She has performed as a percussion sub for the North American Tour of the Lion King Musical. You can also find her playing at various cabarets at the Green Room 42 and 54 Below in New York City. Sarah has done shows with Astoria Performing Arts Center and many other regional theatres in the LA and New York/New Jersey areas. She has recorded with artists such as Morgan James, Derek Klena, Taylor Louderman, Constantine Maroulis, and more. She would like to thank God and her incredible family and friends for their constant love and support.

Hannah Burke

Hannah Burke is so excited to be back at the Mac-Haydn Theatre for her second season! Her previous musical theater credits include Xanadu (Mac-Haydn), Waitress (National Tour), as well as various new works in the NYC area. When she is not playing guitar for this season’s awesome shows, Hannah enjoys exploring all the Hudson Valley has to offer – hikes, great dining spots, and farm stands. (She is always open to recommendations!) Back at her home in Jersey City, she works in environmental education while gigging as a guitarist and cellist. To keep up with her balancing these endeavors while making some music of her own, follow her on Instagram at @hannnnahburke. Enjoy the show!

Alex Lemma

Alex is a freelance woodwind doubler based in the New York City area. Shortly after completing his Master’s Degree in multiple woodwind performance from Montclair State University, he began performing in regional, as well as several Broadway productions. Some recent credits include the orchestras for Hercules, Wicked and Kimberly Akimbo. He spent the last holiday season touring the country as a member of the orchestra for the Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas tour. In addition to musical theater productions he has also performed more classical works with ensembles including the Princeton Symphony and the American Repertory Orchestra. This is his second season at the Mac and is very excited to be back working with this great company!

Emily Croome

A Brooklyn based band leader, pianist, conductor, and music director, Emily has been seen conducting in theaters all over the country on such National Tours as Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Color Purple, and Ragtime, and can be found regularly accompanying and music directing around the New York City area. In her spare time she studies the electric bass in order to groove even harder than ever before. Much love to Rick B. Off-Broadway: Bastard Jones, The Never Ending Line, Regional: Next to Normal (Westport Country Playhouse,) Other World (Delaware Theatre Company,) A Christmas Carol (The Arvada Center,) Always, Patsy Cline (Weston Playhouse,) Next to Normal (Westport County Theatre,) In the Heights (John W Engeman Theater)

Eric Shorey

Eric is thrilled to return to MHT for his 3rd season. He is delighted for audiences to experience the incredible talents of the entire company. His music direction at MHT include Urinetown, Next To Normal, Footloose, Godspell, and last season’s smash hit Jersey Boys. He also proudly music directed the Berkshire Theatre Award Winning A Call To Places starring Gabe Belyeu. Elsewhere, Eric has music directed productions of My Way, Scrooge, A Man of No Importance, and numerous concerts and cabarets. As an actor, Eric has been seen across the country and internationally in productions of Cats, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Disney On Classic in Japan, to name a few. Eric would like to thank John, James, and the entire MHT family for their constant support. For Eric and Henry.

Creative Roles this Season

Music Supervisor
Music Director - West Side Story
Music Supervisor - Sister Act
Music Director - Rent
Music Supervisor - All Shook Up
Music Director - Something Rotten
Music Director - The Fantasticks
Themba Pieterse

Themba is very excited to be back playing Trumpet for the Mac-Haydn Theatre. A rising junior at the Manhattan School of Music, Themba studies classical trumpet under the tutelage of Ethan Bensdorf who is a current trumpet player In the New York Philharmonic. An avid pit musician, Themba has played a wide range of shows such as Cabaret, Something Rotten and Hairspray, his favorite one being The Prom which he performed in December. He can’t wait for everyone to come and hear the opening show of the Mac Haydn season, 42nd Street!

Erika Friedman

Erika is excited to be joining the company at Mac-Haydn this season as one of the Reed players in the orchestra. She holds education and performance degrees from Ithaca College (B.M. in Music Education and Saxophone Performance) and New Jersey City University (M.M. in Multiple Woodwind Performance). Her most recent and memorable musical experiences include the National Tours of “The Producers”, “Annie” and “The Bodyguard”.

Brandon Bromsey

Brandon Bromsey is very excited to be a member of the Mac-Haydn’s 50th season! A native of Poughkeepsie, NY, Brandon holds his BM in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and will pursue a MM in Percussion Performance at Northwestern University this fall. He is thrilled to be playing for this season’s productions of Damn Yankees, Funny Girl, and Cabret .