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Christian McLeer, Artistic Director and Composer, received his first commission at 14 for the American Cancer Society, for which he wrote and performed Hope, later recorded by Anna Marie Botazzi on her CD Encores 2. By 25 he had won numerous piano competitions, performed his works at Carnegie, Steinway and Merkin Concert Halls, received more than 20 commissions and founded his own professional opera company, Remarkable Theater Brigade, which creates and produces new music and theater.Recent commissions include operas, musicals, chorales and solo works by Ontrac Productions, David Reynolds, the National Chorale, Harmonia Opera Company, Phillip Dieckowm, Brooklyn Tech, Jan Hus Church, Monica Harte, and Sophia Anastasia. Works that have been produced in the last 5 years include 4 operas, an electroacoustic musical, more than 30 songs, a ballet, McLeer’s Requiem (released on CD and available on iTunes), a four-hand piano concerto and numerous chamber works; produced by such companies as RTB, OnTrac Productions, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Simmegiatos Dance Company, Brooklyn College, International Electroacoustic Festival, Harmonia Opera, Nevada Opera and Natchez Opera Festival. His compositions have been well-received in the press. Newsday said “…the high point of the evening turned out to be… an effective work by McLeer. Awake is an expert piece of choral writing...” and the New York Times wrote “…richness of ideas in The Grandfather Clocks, a charming and expressive musical panorama… with echoes of Maurice Sendak.”
In addition to his position as Artistic Director of RTB, Christian is musical director for Jan Hus Church and the composer and musical director for the Natchez Festival of Music Educational Outreach. He is also the sound engineer for the TV show Nova Rock, currently being filmed and has just completed the original score for the short independent film in between written and produced by Gail Bell.
Monica Harte, General Director and Soprano, touted internationally as a “consummate artist” and “an unusually endearing performer” by La Nouvelle Republique & Centre Presse, has performed numerous concerts in France, Spain and the US and more than 25 coloratura standard and contemporary roles in the US. 2008/09 Season, Monica performed in concert for Electronic Music Midwest, RTB at Roulette, Satori Opera in Concert, the Composer's Voice Series, Marie Incontrera’s New Music at Kaufman Cultural Center, The Faculty Recital for RTB’s Young Artist Program, and in France for IMEB’s International Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges, where she performed the world premiere of George Brunner’s Lady MacBeth. Monica can be heard singing the soprano solos on RTB’s 2007 CD release of McLeer’s Requiem and is the featured soloist on the CD Songs from Another Place, a collection of American chamber works by George Brunner, Bern Herbolsheimer and Morris Lang recently released by Albany on MSR Classics Label. She is also the soprano soloist for the CD Long Island Songs, music by Tom Cipullo, Anne Phillips, George Brunner, and Christian McLeer, scheduled for release on MSR Classics as well. She recently recorded David Buddin's Fabric of this Vision and McLeer's Ariel's World on The Tempest Project CD to be released by POGUS Productions and Tom Cipullo's song cycle Going for his CD, Landscape with Figures to be released on Albany Records.
Dan Jeselsohn, Founder, Bass Player, has worked as recording engineer on top-selling albums by some of the most renowned names in hip-hop, R&B and rock. As the Technical Director of RTB for the first 6 years, he was responsible for all aspects of audio for the Off-Broadway and community outreach productions including audio engineering, editing, sound design, and front of house sound. As a bass player, Dan has played in professional jazz combos and rock groups since high school. Dan, Christian and Monica performed numerous concerts together and recorded the CD RTBproject. 
Jonathan Levin, Accompanist, Music Director, has performed solo concerts with the Raleigh, Durham Symphony and North Carolina Symphonies. He has won many state and national piano competitions and numerous awards and honors. Recent performances include the Brooklyn College President's Concert with Soprano’s star Steve Schirripa, an East Coast Solo Concert Tour, the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in NYC. An up and coming authority on Lieder, Mr. Levin works with Paul Sperry as accompanist and coach for Sperry's Art Song Class at Brooklyn College. He was recently featured on the Vox Novus/RTB Composer’s Voice Concert Series performing The First Snow-Fall by Florida composer Jeremy Ribando. In April, Mr. Levin was accompanist and musical coach/director for RTB's No Shirts No Skirts No Service production of emerging composers’ 10 minute operas and scenes. A popular New York accompanist and excellent sight reader, Mr. Levin accompanies lessons for many of New York City’s well-known voice teachers. This summer, Mr. Levin is preparing for the Solo Concert Circuit, including competitions and performances throughout the US. 
Marie Incontrera, Assistant Production Coordinator, Composer, began playing the piano at age five and was composing short piano pieces by the age of seven. Currently, Marie is an Adjunct Lecturer at CUNY Brooklyn College, and has studied primarily with Tania Leon, while also working closely with George Brunner, Douglas Cohen and Jason Eckardt. She has been a participant in the New York Youth Symphony's Making Score program under the direction of Derek Bermel; through this program she has also worked closely with Martin Bresnick, Anna Clyne, and Kenji Bunch. Her work has received a reading from the American Composers Orchestra, and has been performed in Symphony Space. Recent works include "Liszten" for Basso Moderno, and "Paul's Case" for the International Electro Acoustic Music Festival at Brooklyn College. 
Nancy Merriam, Graphic Designer, Bass Player, is performance coordinator for Haverford College music department where she creates graphic designs for the music department events. She began designing posters and programs for RTB in 2008 and designs special event posters for Electronic Music New York. Nancy is also an accomplished double bassist and has performed with RTB at Roulette in New York City and for the YAP Faculty Concert. She has performed for audiences throughout the United States and her native country, Canada. Her concert activities include solo, ensemble and orchestral playing. Nancy particularly enjoys performing concerts of contemporary music and concerts for children featuring the bass as a solo instrument. A former member of the San Antonio Symphony, Nancy is currently a freelance musician in the greater Philadelphia area. 
George Brunner, Young Artist Program Staff, Composer, recently directed RTB’s YAP Electroacoustic Concert New Waves of Electroacoustic Music featuring his music as well as Christian’s and other composers’. Mr. Brunner is a composer and performer, researcher/writer, recording engineer/producer and teacher. His music has been performed throughout the United States, in Europe, Asia, and South America. Recent accomplishments include the world premiere performance of his electroacoustic drama lady MacBeth at IMEB in France, the recent recording of his song cycle Songs From Another Place and 3 Japanese Songs (both on MSR Classics Label), commission for Elixir of the Central Fire, a percussion piece for Morris Lang, and Composer-in-residence at the Institut International de Musique Electroacoustique de Bourges (France). Brunner is the Director of the Music Technology Program for the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College and is the founder of the Brooklyn College Electroacoustic Music Ensemble, which under his direction produces an annual CD. He is also Artistic Director and founder of Electronic Music New York.
Scott Roche, Graphic Designer, Director, Baritone, recently made his Lincoln Center solo debut with the National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall in April of this year. Recent credits include Jim Thompson in Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied, Ottone in L'incoranazione di Poppea, Papageno in die Zauberflote, der Vater in Humperdink's Hansel und Gretel, and Jack in RTB's Outreach production of Christian McClear's Shot! Scott has been doing graphic design for RTB since the production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, which he directed.
Josh Carr, Director, Tenor, has directed and choreographed numerous performances for RTB. He has performed operatic as well as musical theater roles both regionally and abroad, most recently in China and Italy. His most recent performances in the US include Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Snowman in A Childhood Miracle and First Soldier in L'incoronazione di Poppea. He also sang the Producer in the children’s version of Shot! for RTB.
Joachim Schamberger, Stage Director and Virtual Theater Designer, has created original productions in the United States and Germany. He directed RTB’s production of Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo. A graduate of the Musikhochschule in Würzburg, and the Merola Opera Program of the San Francisco Opera, Joachim went on to study digital film production and 3-D animation at the New York Film Academy. Recent productions include La Bohème for Connecticut Grand Opera, Tosca for Indianapolis Opera, Sweeney Todd and Rigoletto for Shreveport Opera, and Martha and The Wizard of Oz for the Landestheater Coburg in Germany. Upcoming projects include The Magic Flute for the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel, Falstaff for Théâtre Municipal Castres, France, Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi for Tampa Opera and Das Rheingold with the Indianapolis Symphony.Jennifer Paar, Costume Designer, has recently left her position as costume designer for the Poly Prep Country Day School after 4 years, due to the high demand she now experiences as a freelance designer in both theatre and film. She has just finished designing Noodleboro, a toy premiere for Hasbro, as well as the plays Our Country’s Good and Pippin for The Gravity Project at Juniata College. She worked with director Julius Onah, creating the costumes for the recent short film The Boundary. On the internet, her design can be seen in the fantasy football “webisode” The Fantastic Two, (www.thefantastictwo.com). Other recent designs include Every Day Above Ground for the Sabooge Theatre Company (PS 122), Ten Little Indians and How the Other Half Loves for the Cortland Repertory Theatre, Roach for Ontik/Philadelphia Fringe Festival, As You Like It for Stonington Opera House, Winter’s Tale for The Shakespeare Project, The Sound of Music for Summer Theater of New Canaan, and Thrill Me for The York Theatre. Jennifer received her MFA in design from NYU.
Noby Ishida, Assistant Conductor, Musical Director, earned a Master of Music degree from the Mannes College of Music, having earned his BA from the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a vocal coach and assistant conductor with the International Opera Academy of Rome and has served on the faculties of Bennington College, University of Miami, Temple University, CUNY and The New School. Mr. Ishida has been music director and conductor for Opera Northeast and has conducted several productions for the Belleayre Festival Opera. Mr. Ishida runs his own young artist program, giving young singers an opportunity to sing with professionals and perform in concert operas in venues throughout New York City. As accompanist, Mr. Ishida has performed in numerous halls in New York City including Merkin Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Bechstein Center, Steinway Hall, and Alice Tully Hall. He is a freelance vocal coach in New York City, working with artists who sing for major opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera Company, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco Opera among others.
Steven Crawford, Conductor, conducted the world premiere of McLeer’s Requiem and Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied for RTB. Having completed 9 years on the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera, he has embarked on an active conducting career. He recently conducted Les Contes d’Hoffmann for Prelude to Performance in NYC, Don Giovanni with Dayton Opera, Otello with Vero Beach Opera and The Medium/Pagliacci with Syracuse Opera. He conducted La Cenerentola with the Cincinnati Opera, where he had been called "the find of the evening" for stepping in on 12 hours notice to conduct Il Barbiere di Siviglia, simultaneously accompanying the recitatives on the fortepiano. Maestro Crawford has conducted for numerous opera companies and worked with great artists, such as Sherill Milnes, Carol Neblett and Justino Diaz. An excellent symphonic conductor and proponent of contemporary music, Maestro Crawford was engaged by the New York Philharmonic as cover conductor for Maestro Kurt Masur for the American premiere of Minoru Miki's Symphony for Two Worlds. Other premieres include the NYC premiere of Richard Wargo’s A Chekov Trilogy and the world premiere of John Nelson’s Fantasies and Flourishes.
George Hogan, Stage Director, is the artistic director for the Natchez Festival of Music, as well as the director of Opera/Musical Theatre Activities at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He is director for 3 of the Opera Shorts for RTB’s production at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall October 1, 2009. Mr. Hogan has recorded for PBS and has been heard on NPR Radio and "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcasts. He currently is the resident vocal artist and instructor of voice and church music at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He has taught voice and opera theatre and has managed several private voice studios across the country. The winner of several prestigious awards.
Amy Axelson, Stage Director, will direct 2 of RTB’s Opera Shorts at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall October 1, 2009. Other future projects include Così fan tutte and La Bohème with Opera in the Ozarks. She has directed Un Ballo in Maschera, Madama Butterfly, Il Re Pastore, La Bohème, Die Fledermaus and Tosca among other operas. She has also just wrapped up her first film, Why We Wax, a short documentary for the 2008 film festival circuit. .Ms. Axelson has worked on productions in New York and across the country for companies such as Washington National Opera in Washington, D.C., Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Pine Mountain Music Festival, New York Chamber Opera, Cantiamo Opera, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Dicapo Opera, Liederkranz Foundation and National Lyric Opera. As an assistant director, Amy has collaborated with such notable directors as Bernard Uzan, Stan Garner and Lamberto Puggelli.
Olga Shyp, Stage Director, Soprano, is a native of Ukraine where she graduated from the Odessa State Conservatory. Olga directed the Opera Scenes Concert for RTB’s YAP and 2 operas for Opera Shorts. She has sung numerous operatic roles including Adina, Violetta and the Snow Maiden (Rimsky-Korsakov) to name a few. An accomplished recitalist and oratorio soloist, she has toured the United States as well as Western and Eastern Europe in concert. Miss Shyp recently moved to New York City and has performed with Cantiamo Opera, New Jersey Opera Theater, the Concert at One Series, Carnegie (Weill) Hall and as part of the Trinity Church “Concerts at One” Series among others. Miss Shyp is a member of the Piques Dames vocal trio which has recently become a winner of Artists International’s Chamber Music Award and Long Island International Chamber Competition. Future engagements include Emerging Composers Chamber Operas with Remarkable Theater Brigade and several concerts with Piques Dames.
Julia Amisano, Stage Director, Soprano, has sung with and directed for RTB since RTB’s second season. Julia has also performed in numerous musical genres. Her latest classical CD, GREEN, debuted on NPR’s Evening Music Program on February 2, 2009. Julia’s professional roles in Opera, Musical Theatre and Theatre include Miranda in EMNY’s Electroacoustic Drama The Tempest Project, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Ghost of Christmas Past in a National Tour of A Christmas Carol and Macrcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro among others. Julia teaches private voice, piano and acting at Grace Music Studio, a private studio she founded in 1999.
David Kissel, Stage and Lighting Designer, is a graduate of NYU School of the Arts, and has been actively involved in Theatre since High School, and you will have to guess how long ago that was. He has designed Lighting and/or Scenery for various productions at Boston Opera, Providence Opera, Opera Illinois, Ft. Worth Opera, Paper Mill Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, Northstage, Theatre Under the Stars, Playwrights Horizon and Lincoln Center Out of Doors, to name just a few. He has done numerous tours of the US, Europe and the Far East with various Dance Companies. David designed the lighting for RTB's original production of Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied in 2008. He is currently the Production Manager for Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College.
Noby Ishida, Assistant Conductor, Musical Director, earned a Master of Music degree from the Mannes College of Music, having earned his BA from the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a vocal coach and assistant conductor with the International Opera Academy of Rome and has served on the faculties of Bennington College, University of Miami, Temple University, CUNY and The New School. Mr. Ishida has been music director and conductor for Opera Northeast and has conducted several productions for the Belleayre Festival Opera. Mr. Ishida runs his own young artist program, giving young singers an opportunity to sing with professionals and perform in concert operas in venues throughout New York City. As accompanist, Mr. Ishida has performed in numerous halls in New York City including Merkin Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Bechstein Center, Steinway Hall, and Alice Tully Hall. He is a freelance vocal coach in New York City, working with artists who sing for major opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera Company, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and San Francisco Opera among others.Steven Crawford, Conductor, conducted the world premiere of McLeer’s Requiem and Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied for RTB. Having completed 9 years on the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera, he has embarked on an active conducting career. He recently conducted Les Contes d’Hoffmann for Prelude to Performance in NYC, Don Giovanni with Dayton Opera, Otello with Vero Beach Opera and The Medium/Pagliacci with Syracuse Opera. He conducted La Cenerentola with the Cincinnati Opera, where he had been called "the find of the evening" for stepping in on 12 hours notice to conduct Il Barbiere di Siviglia, simultaneously accompanying the recitatives on the fortepiano. Maestro Crawford has conducted for numerous opera companies and worked with great artists, such as Sherill Milnes, Carol Neblett and Justino Diaz. An excellent symphonic conductor and proponent of contemporary music, Maestro Crawford was engaged by the New York Philharmonic as cover conductor for Maestro Kurt Masur for the American premiere of Minoru Miki's Symphony for Two Worlds. Other premieres include the NYC premiere of Richard Wargo’s A Chekov Trilogy and the world premiere of John Nelson’s Fantasies and Flourishes.George Hogan, Stage Director, is the artistic director for the Natchez Festival of Music, as well as the director of Opera/Musical Theatre Activities at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He is director for 3 of the Opera Shorts for RTB’s production at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall October 1, 2009. Mr. Hogan has recorded for PBS and has been heard on NPR Radio and "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcasts. He currently is the resident vocal artist and instructor of voice and church music at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He has taught voice and opera theatre and has managed several private voice studios across the country. The winner of several prestigious awards.Amy Axelson, Stage Director, will direct 2 of RTB’s Opera Shorts at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall October 1, 2009. Other future projects include Così fan tutte and La Bohème with Opera in the Ozarks. She has directed Un Ballo in Maschera, Madama Butterfly, Il Re Pastore, La Bohème, Die Fledermaus and Tosca among other operas. She has also just wrapped up her first film, Why We Wax, a short documentary for the 2008 film festival circuit. .Ms. Axelson has worked on productions in New York and across the country for companies such as Washington National Opera in Washington, D.C., Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Pine Mountain Music Festival, New York Chamber Opera, Cantiamo Opera, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Dicapo Opera, Liederkranz Foundation and National Lyric Opera. As an assistant director, Amy has collaborated with such notable directors as Bernard Uzan, Stan Garner and Lamberto Puggelli. Olga Shyp, Stage Director, Soprano, is a native of Ukraine where she graduated from the Odessa State Conservatory. Olga directed the Opera Scenes Concert for RTB’s YAP and 2 operas for Opera Shorts. She has sung numerous operatic roles including Adina, Violetta and the Snow Maiden (Rimsky-Korsakov) to name a few. An accomplished recitalist and oratorio soloist, she has toured the United States as well as Western and Eastern Europe in concert. Miss Shyp recently moved to New York City and has performed with Cantiamo Opera, New Jersey Opera Theater, the Concert at One Series, Carnegie (Weill) Hall and as part of the Trinity Church “Concerts at One” Series among others. Miss Shyp is a member of the Piques Dames vocal trio which has recently become a winner of Artists International’s Chamber Music Award and Long Island International Chamber Competition. Future engagements include Emerging Composers Chamber Operas with Remarkable Theater Brigade and several concerts with Piques Dames.Julia Amisano, Stage Director, Soprano, has sung with and directed for RTB since RTB’s second season. Julia has also performed in numerous musical genres. Her latest classical CD, GREEN, debuted on NPR’s Evening Music Program on February 2, 2009. Julia’s professional roles in Opera, Musical Theatre and Theatre include Miranda in EMNY’s Electroacoustic Drama The Tempest Project, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Ghost of Christmas Past in a National Tour of A Christmas Carol and Macrcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro among others. Julia teaches private voice, piano and acting at Grace Music Studio, a private studio she founded in 1999. David Kissel, Stage and Lighting Designer, is a graduate of NYU School of the Arts, and has been actively involved in Theatre since High School, and you will have to guess how long ago that was. He has designed Lighting and/or Scenery for various productions at Boston Opera, Providence Opera, Opera Illinois, Ft. Worth Opera, Paper Mill Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, Northstage, Theatre Under the Stars, Playwrights Horizon and Lincoln Center Out of Doors, to name just a few. He has done numerous tours of the US, Europe and the Far East with various Dance Companies. David designed the lighting for RTB's original production of Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied in 2008. He is currently the Production Manager for Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College.
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