Joel Esher is a songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and teaching artist living in New York City
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Joel is a composer-lyricist and songwriter. His original children's choral composition, "Time to Play" was the winner of the 2025 inaugural Washington Heights Choir School Choral Composition Competition. His Off-Broadway Martin Shkreli musical comedy PharmaBro received national attention and was nominated for an Off-Broadway Alliance award for best new musical. He has co-written numerous works including Folk Wandering (Off-Broadway), Bagels from Benny: the Musical (92y commission), Sammy Spider's First Mitzvah (92y commission), Superhots! (licensed through MTI), and others.
More about Joel's compositions.
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Joel is a 15-year veteran teaching artist who collaborates regularly with Trinity Wall Street, The Dreamyard Project, and The Little Orchestra Society, and has a history of working with some of the most well-regarded arts education companies in New York.
More about Joel's Teaching Artist practice.
Joel is a 17-year veteran music director of music improv and sketch comedy, having worked for The Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, Baby Wants Candy, The Story Pirates, and other prestigious and hilarious companies across the country.
More about Joel's experience Music Directing comedy.
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Joel is a commercial music producer. He partners with ad agencies and exclusive music publishing libraries to create wholly original, licensable music for commercials, tv and film.
Joel's licensable music portfolio.
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Joel graduated with a B.M. in Music Direction and Voice and Opera from Northwestern University with a Certificate of Performance in Musical Theater and graduated The Second City's Music Director Training Program. Member of the BMI-Advanced Musical Theater Writing Program.
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