Legally Blonde: Whipped Into Shape. Directed and choreographed by Ryan Hendricks, produced by Dominic Cuskern at the Gallery Players, music directed by Chelsea Melnick. Featuring Chelsea Melnick (keys 1/conductor), Miu Sato (keys 2), Nya Holmes (bass), Shun K Lopez (drums), and Skylar Davidson as Brooke Wyndham.

Media

The Last Five Years: Audition Sequence. Introducing Isabella Scolaro: Onward and Upward at The Green Room 42, produced by Abri Berg. Music directed and accompanied on piano by Chelsea Melnick. Featuring Isabella Scolaro (singer), Noah Hogan (guitar), Anna Young (bass), Priscilla Tam (violin), and Sam Novotny (drums).

Hello Again: The One I Love. The LGBTQ+ Lifeline: A Fundraiser Cabaret for the Trevor Project at The Green Room 42, produced by Toby Chernesky. Music directed and accompanied on piano by Chelsea Melnick. Featuring David Postelwate (left), Toby Chernesky (right), Sam Novotny (drums), Tyler Arle (guitar), and Thomas Ramos (bass).

How High The Moon, sung by Ella Fitzgerald with The Paul Smith Quartet in 1960. Transcribed and performed by Chelsea Melnick. Featuring Yuma Sung (piano) and Nya Holmes (bass.)

  • Chelsea is an experienced music director, keyboard programmer, piano and stick conductor, pit musician, vocal director and vocal coach.

  • Chelsea is passionate about helping her students be the most authentic artists they can be. Working with Chelsea you will learn about technique, artistry, and acting through song. Chelsea teaches privately and at School of Rock NYC. She has experience teaching all genres. Reach out via email if you are interested in lessons!

  • Chelsea has scored several plays, including most recently Helen In Her Homeland by Alexandra Haddad at Loft Story. Contact her over email to discuss a collaboration.

  • Need sheet music for a piece you’ve written or recorded? Chelsea is able to transcribe your piece and create professional sheet music and/or charts.

  • Send Chelsea sheet music and she will create organized, professional scores for you.

  • Chelsea has experience arranging and orchestrating for all genres of music including rock, musical theater, lead sheets for jazz, vocal ensembles, and more.

  • Chelsea has music directed numerous cabarets at New York City venues. She is able to accompany your show on piano, find musicians to play, and help select and organize music.

  • As a pianist, Chelsea has performed with various ensembles, bands, and as a solo performer. She sings with the vocal jazz group Turnarounds. Classically trained, Chelsea has experience singing anything from arias to contemporary R&B music. Additionally, Chelsea has experience playing bass and drums with ensembles at School of Rock NYC where she teaches.

  • Having graduated from New York University with a Bachelors of Music Education, Chelsea is passionate about teaching. She has experience working in private and public schools across New York City and currently teaches voice and keys at School of Rock NYC.

About

Chelsea Melnick (she/her) is a New York based music director, pianist, singer, and educator. She is a graduate of the Music Education program at NYU where she received the 2024 Presser Scholar award for Outstanding Contribution and Achievement as well as the NYU Steinhardt award for Academic and Artistic Excellence in Music Education.

Chelsea is currently in Sonoma, CA working on Transcendence Theatre Company’s summer season with music directors Susan Draus, Matt Smart, and Richard Baskin Jr., as well as associate music directors Kenji Higashihama and Katie Coleman. During her time with TTC, Chelsea has worked as a music assistant, keyboardist, and rehearsal pianist. She wrote vocal arrangements and engraved piano/vocals for the company’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular in collaboration with the sixty piece Santa Rosa Symphony. As the music director of TTC’s Kids Camp, Chelsea directed a fifty piece children's chorus for a performance of Radio Recall, Transcendence’s summer concert featuring Jenna Rubaii and Aaron Lavigne.

Chelsea is passionate about education, access, outreach, and community engagement. In 2026 she started teaching musical theater workshops at The Ali Forney Center, an organization which provides services for 16-24 year old homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City. She is looking forward to growing her relationship with The Ali Forney Center and bringing her workshop to other organizations.

As an experienced music director and composer, Chelsea is passionate about developing new works. This past spring, she music directed a production of the new musical The Startup, created by Patrick McAndrew, at The Flea Theater. Chelsea has composed original music for several plays, most recently for Helen in Her Homeland with Frayed Knot Collective. As a songwriter, arranger, and band leader, she enjoys supporting other artist’s musical visions, as well as developing her own original work. Chelsea is dedicated to fostering interpersonal and emotional connections through her teaching and creative endeavors.

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