Jason Rabinowitz

I joined Local 802 initially because I was producing a few records that were union sessions. These days I’ve been on a Broadway job. My musical goal in NYC is to continue to write, record, produce and perform music as much as possible. I have a puppet musical troupe called the Pop Ups and a rock band called the Bloodsugars. I do session work when possible, I produce records in a studio that I’m building piece by piece, and I write for a jingle house. Recently, I auditioned for “One Man Two Guvnors,” a Broadway show with an onstage band. I was cast as the lead singer. It was the best job I’ve ever had in my life: so much fun, a wonderful cast and crew, and the music is out of sight! My principal instrument is guitar. I also play bass, keyboards, mandolin, banjo and ukulele.

Jason Rabinowitz

Corey Schutzer

I joined Local 802 to get my foot in the door of the professional freelance scene. I am a classically-trained double bassist, but my musical goals are not limited to playing in an orchestra. I would love to play on Broadway as well as perform in small ensembles of any kind. I’m a graduate of Juilliard, and I recently played with the New Juilliard Ensemble at MoMA as part of the Summergarden Series. In addition to double bass, I also play electric bass and guitar.

Corey Schutzer

Ana Flavia

I play piano and electric bass, and I also teach voice. One of my recent gigs was playing on the national tour of “Billy Elliot.” I got the gig through the recommendation of a friend, who put me in touch with the conductor and the contractor.

Ana Flavia Zuim

Matt Davis

I joined Local 802 when I was asked to perform in several jazz group performances for the New York Pops that were union gigs. My goal in NYC is to play, compose, perform and develop my musical life as much as possible. One of my most recent gigs was actually a funeral for a 96-year-old man from the Big Easy. I got the gig when a friend was contacted about putting some music together for the reception, and he reached out to me. It was actually a very beautiful event. My principal instrument is guitar.

Matt Davis

David Free

I joined Local 802 after transferring from AFM Local 149 (Toronto). There was an eight-year period in my life where I was solely a full-time professional musician. I played oboe, oboe d’amore and English horn in Canada’s premiere naval band and in a professional symphony orchestra, in addition to doing studio and musical theatre work. Now I split my time between my two true passions: caring for patients during the day (in the field of pain management, palliative care and hospice work), and performing music on nights and weekends. Sometimes I even have the chance to marry my two passions through music therapy work and research. Music is an important catharsis for me. I honestly feel that the work that I do in palliative care fuels the feeling, poignancy and affect that underlies, influences, shapes and inspires the emotional range of my playing. As I work with patients with life-limiting illness, I am reminded daily of the precious and fragile nature of life. For me, this amplifies the joy of simple things. I hope to have the opportunity to do some sub work on Broadway or Off Broadway or have the chance to work with local semi-pro orchestras. My career probably precludes a full-time pit job, so sub work is perfect. This way, the performer gets a competent sub who is not going to steal their full-time gig, and I get to continue my musical theatre performance work. Besides oboe, oboe d’amore and English horn, I also play flute and piccolo.

David Free

Ayumi Okada

I joined Local 802 to get to know musicians and to find job opportunities in musical theatre. My musical goal in New York City is to be an arranger or orchestrator for Broadway. One of my recent jobs was assistant music director of the show “The Better Part.” My principal instrument is piano.

Ayumi Okada