Founded in 1907, MacDowell is a leading contemporary arts organization that provides essential support for emerging and established artists.

Jesse J. Sanchez is an award-winning composer-lyricist, writer, and music director whose work has reached audiences nationwide. He is a 2025 James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation Spark Artist Award winner, VCCA Fellow, a two-time recipient of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Frank Young Grant, a recipient of the Milagro Latino Artist Fund Grant, and a finalist for the Opera America Digital Excellence in Opera Award. Jesse is currently under commission or has received commissions from prestigious organizations such as Zach Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Portland Opera, TYA/USA, The 24 Hour Plays, Camelot Theatre, and more.

Jesse is an alumnus of numerous distinguished programs, including the Musical Theatre West New Works Festival, NAMT, The Orchard Project, The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Austin Latinx New Play Festival, Prospect Theatre’s Musical Theatre Lab, Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Black Swan Lab, and New York Theatre Barn Core Programs, including the Barn on Fire Festival of New Musicals (mentored by Jerry Mitchell). 

His notable works include Sueños: Our American Musical, Zapata: A Folklorico Superhero Musical, desert in, Exhaustion Arroyo: Dancing’ Trees in the Ravine, Trio: A Spotlight on Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, and many more. Jesse’s work has been showcased at major regional theaters, off-Broadway, opera houses, and other prestigious venues, including Playbill, The Green Room 42 in NYC (sold-out concert), Broadway League’s The Jimmy Awards (2023 & 2024), the Broadway Housing Committee Gala hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show, and First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York. 

Jesse is also collaborating with the Dr. Seuss Estate and The Old Globe to create a Spanish version of their Broadway musical, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His music is available on all major streaming platforms, with features on Sirius XM Broadway, Playbill, and Musical Theatre Radio.

Paris-born, Brooklyn-based artist, Laura Elkeslassy is a singer of Judeo-Arab music. Her work draws inspiration from her Sephardi and Moroccan roots exploring North-African folk, Andalusi nubas, Ladino canciones and Maghrebi Jewish liturgy.

Laura has performed music at countless venues including Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museo del Barrio, Joe’s Pub, Ramova Theater, Roulette, Three Dollar Bill, Wild Birds, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She was the lead singer of the NY Andalus Ensemble for 5 years and has toured across the US, Canada, the UK and France.

Stay tuned for the anticipated release of Ya Ghorbati's studio album, produced by Ira Khonen Temple and Eylem Basaldi. Learn more at www.lauraelkeslassy.com

nyc-based composer & sound designer. i do other stuff, too.

email: 
aviamonmusic@gmail.com

Composer, Producer, and Musician

Nashville | LA

info@austinfray.com

A 501(c)3 that aims to increase opportunities for composers, performers, and audiences by fostering the creation, dissemination, and enjoyment of new American music, both nationally and internationally.

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