MAESTRA MUSIC CELEBRATES ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY WITH A SPECIAL PANEL DISCUSSION:

New York, NY (May 30, 2024) – Maestra Music, a trailblazing organization dedicated to empowering women and nonbinary musicians in the theater industry, celebrates its fifth anniversary alongside the one-year anniversary of RISE Theatre Directory with a special Panel Discussion as part of New York Music Month, an initiative of the NY Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment, on Monday, June 24th, 2024, at 3 pm ET. This event is a partnership between the NY Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment, Disney Theatrical, and Maestra Music with support from Kendra Scott Jewelry. Nancy Giles will moderate the panel, including Maestra Founder Composer/Lyricist Georgia Stitt, RISE Program Manager and Producer Victoria Detres, Composer Helen Park, and Producer and Stage Manager Cody Renard Richard. ​ Register for the FREE Livestream at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/maestramusic/event/livestreamontherise/

Founded in early 2017 by Composer/Lyricist and Music Director Georgia Stitt, Maestra Music emerged from a series of informal gatherings that highlighted women musicians' invisibility in theatre productions. Maestra has grown into a thriving community of over 2,200 members, offering support, visibility, and community to underrepresented musical talents. 

The upcoming event will delve into Maestra's journey, impact, and the launch of RISE Theatre Directory, a groundbreaking initiative in partnership with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Miranda Family Fund. The Panel Discussion will explore topics such as the state of the industry, Maestra's founding and evolution, leveraging directories for job seekers and employers, partnerships with RISE Theatre, and real-life testimonials showcasing Maestra's impact.

"We are excited to celebrate this milestone and reflect on Maestra Music's transformative journey over the past five years. Maestra’s commitment to visibility, community, and support has created a ripple effect of change, amplifying the voices of women and nonbinary musicians globally," said Cathleen Murphy, Executive Producer of the event.

The event promises to be an enlightening and engaging experience for all stakeholders in the theatre and music industries, highlighting the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Event Details:

ABOUT MAESTRA
​Maestra Music, Inc. was founded by composer/lyricist and music director Georgia Stitt to provide support, visibility, and community to the women and nonbinary people who make the music in the musical theater industry. Maestra envisions a world in which women and nonbinary people have equitable access, visibility, and creative impact in the musical theater industry. In this future, at least half of all music-related theater jobs and leadership roles are filled by qualified women and nonbinary musicians, decidedly inclusive of people of color. These musicians are historically and consistently under-represented in musical theatre. By delivering on our mission, we will be a catalyst and driving force to help achieve gender equity in our business. Maestra Music Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization based in New York. www.maestramusic.org

IG: @maestramusicorg
​Facebook: /MaestraMusicOrg

ABOUT RISE THEATRE ​
​RISE (Representation, Inclusion, & Support for Employment) seeks to build a more equitable and inclusive theatre industry by centralizing DEIA tools and resources through a network of partners and a national personnel directory, that amplifies folks from underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, deaf, and disabled theatre professionals. For more information about RISE Theatre, visit risetheatre.org

IG: @risetheatreorg
​Facebook: /RiseTheatreOrg

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