About the Broadway Orchestra
The NYU Broadway Orchestra is a distinguished ensemble dedicated to preparing undergraduate and graduate students for professional careers in musical theatre performance. Under the mentorship of conductor Ted Sperling and musical contractor John Miller, you will engage in weekly study and performance of Broadway repertoire spanning the history of the genre, from early jazz-influenced works and mid-century classics to contemporary pop and rock musicals.
You will build essential professional skills including sight reading, subbing, ensemble performance, and stylistic versatility across musical theatre idioms, with additional training in recording practices, theatre history, and collaborative musicianship. Performance opportunities include playing in the pit for Steinhardt’s musical productions and participating in concerts featuring the orchestra onstage. A defining feature of the NYU Broadway Orchestra is your exceptional access to the professional Broadway community through faculty networks, offering mentorship and coaching from leading music directors, orchestrators, composers, and performers. The Broadway Orchestra provides a unique and ideal environment for you to study, learn, and flourish.
Who Can Register
NYU Steinhardt Instrumental Performance majors.
Audition Information
Students will be selected by their program directors, based on their audition for NYU Orchestra.
Course Meeting Time
MPAGC-GE 2087.004/UE 1087.004
Weekly rehearsals will take place Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Paulson Center, room 620. In addition, many rehearsals and performances will take place weekday evenings as well as on weekends. Students should check their availability for all hours on the detailed schedule provided to them in advance of the semester.
Contact Information
All contacts can be reached through MPAP-Orchestras@nyu.edu
The Creative Team
Led by music contractor John Miller and conductor Ted Sperling, the NYU Broadway Orchestra equips you with essential skills in sight-reading, ensemble performance, and musical theatre styles. Gain hands-on experience in Broadway-style pits and onstage concerts while exploring recording techniques, theatre history, and collaborative musicianship. With mentorship from leading Broadway music directors, orchestrators, composers, and performers, you’ll refine your craft, build professional connections, and prepare for a career in musical theatre.
John Miller and Ted Sperling
About the Broadway Pathway
The Broadway Pathway, offered as an optional sequence of study through the MM in Instrumental Performance, offers an unparalleled training experience for aspiring professional musicians in strings, brass, percussion and woodwinds.