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FOUNDER & CEO · MUSICAL THEATRE MASTERY
David Jayden
Anthony
Musical theatre writer. Music director.
Vocal educator. Your coach.
I help performers connect the voice, the music, and the story—so the work you do in practice comes alive in performance.
Free 30-minute Zoom session · Coaching + assessment · No obligation
VOICE. STORY. SHARED DISCOVERY.
THE STORY & THE EXPERIENCE
Get to know your coach.
Explore my approach, background, production work, and life in education.
A NOTE FROM DAVID
It takes a village
to raise an artist.
I created Musical Theatre Mastery because learning the craft should help you put the pieces together: your voice, your acting, your preparation, and the story you want to tell.
I’ve spent more than twenty years teaching, music directing, accompanying, and writing musical theatre. Across those roles, I keep coming back to the same idea: technique becomes useful when it helps a performer communicate something specific.
A vocal exercise can open a door. The next step is finding that freedom inside the song. That is where I love to work—with the lyric, the music, the character’s circumstances, and the individual performer in front of me.
Connect the pieces. Find your own voice.
That is the thinking behind the Mosaic Method. We connect singing and acting, explore the choices that make a phrase come alive, and build a process you can return to in practice. I listen closely, explain what I’m hearing, and give you room to try an adjustment and discover what changes.
MTM brings that work beyond the studio through free training and practical tools. And when you want individual guidance, coaching gives us the time to work on your material, your questions, and your next step.
Bring a song, a scene, or an audition piece. We’ll start where you are.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Writer. Music director.
Educator. Coach.
David Jayden Anthony’s work spans musical theatre writing, vocal education, choral arranging, music direction, and arts program leadership. His experience includes college instruction, conservatory training, original musical development, and professional and educational productions.
Education & training
Berklee NYC
Master’s in Creative Media and Technology (CMAT) — Musical Theatre Writing and Production
Graduate training in musical theatre writing and production, bringing the songwriter’s perspective into the rehearsal room and the coaching studio.
Berklee College of Music
BA · SONGWRITING & MUSIC PRODUCTION · 2023
Bachelor of Arts in Songwriting & Music Production.
Chapman University & CSU Fullerton
ADDITIONAL AREAS OF STUDY
Music education, choral conducting, and composition at Chapman University; choral conducting and music education at California State University, Fullerton.
New Musicals Initiative / ANMT
COMPOSER LAB
Training in lyric setting, underscore, piano arranging, score formatting, and professional musical theatre writing practices.
Teaching appointments
Young Americans College of Arts
ADJUNCT FACULTY · 2010–2014
Developed Musical Theatre and Vocal MasterClass courses, taught voice and audition preparation, and contributed curriculum and assessment rubrics for accreditation. Juried more than 120 students annually in classical and contemporary musical theatre repertoire.
Saddleback College
ADJUNCT FACULTY · 2008–2014
Co-created and music directed the New Works Program for staged readings of original musicals. Music directed mainstage productions and served as music director and choreographer for College for Kids summer programming.
San Clemente High School
DRAMA TEACHER & MUSIC DIRECTOR · 2018–2019
Taught Beginning Acting and Musical Theatre Workshop and music directed mainstage productions.
Orange County School of the Arts
MUSICAL THEATRE FACULTY · 2003–2008
Taught music theory, commercial voice, choir, a cappella, and audition techniques. Founded the Unplugged a cappella ensemble and created instrumental and choral arrangements for student performances.
Arts leadership & conservatory work
Encore Education Corporation
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARTS & TEACHERS · 2015–2017
Led faculty hiring and training across arts high school campuses; developed arts curriculum and assessment rubrics; and oversaw production planning, licensing, venues, budgets, and directors.
Musical Theatre University
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & MUSIC DIRECTOR
Served as co-artistic director with Jonelle Allen, directed and music directed productions, mentored performers, and contributed to program and grant narratives.
McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts
MUSIC DIRECTOR & TEACHING ARTIST
Worked within a professional summer stock training model and served as pianist and conductor for masterclasses with visiting writers and industry artists.
Creative & teaching practice
Musical theatre composition · Lyric writing · Choral arranging · Orchestration · Piano arranging · Voice pedagogy · Acting through song · Audition preparation · Music theory · Curriculum development · Stage and music direction
Creative tools include Logic Pro, Sibelius, Pro Tools, MainStage, and GarageBand.
Explore the Production History and Work In Education tabs for specific credits and teaching responsibilities.
BIOGRAPHY
The person behind
Musical Theatre Mastery.
David Jayden Anthony is a musical theatre writer, music director, pianist, vocal educator, and the founder and CEO of Musical Theatre Mastery. Based in Long Beach, California, he helps performers connect vocal technique, acting choices, and musical storytelling.
His perspective comes from more than twenty years working across the classroom, the rehearsal room, and the writing desk. He has held teaching appointments at Young Americans College of Arts, Saddleback College, Orange County School of the Arts, and San Clemente High School. His teaching has included private voice, vocal masterclass, musical theatre performance, acting, piano, music theory, and audition techniques.
At Saddleback College, David co-created and music directed the New Works Program, supporting original musicals through staged readings. His production experience includes music direction, vocal direction, stage direction, orchestration, and composition, with credits ranging from Into the Woods and Assassins to A Chorus Line and regional premieres of BARE: A Pop Opera and Spring Awakening.
David’s arts leadership includes serving as Executive Director of Arts and Teachers for Encore Education Corporation and as co-artistic director of Musical Theatre University with Jonelle Allen. At OCSA, he founded the Unplugged a cappella ensemble and contributed vocal direction and arrangements to performance programs and special events.
He holds a master’s in Creative Media and Technology (CMAT), focused on Musical Theatre Writing and Production, from Berklee NYC, and a Bachelor of Arts in Songwriting & Music Production from Berklee College of Music. His original writing includes Angel’s Playhouse, alongside other musical theatre projects in development.
Through MTM and the Mosaic Method, David brings those perspectives into a practical coaching process: listen closely, make specific choices, and connect technique to the story. Free training and tools extend the work between sessions; individual coaching gives each performer focused guidance in their own material.
ON STAGE & IN THE REHEARSAL ROOM
Production history
Selected music direction, vocal direction, stage direction, writing, and arranging credits from David’s résumé. Original works and development projects appear alongside production credits.
25th Annual – Spelling Bee
Woodbridge High School
Music Director
Frozen
Buena Park High School
Vocal Director
Angel’s Playhouse
Berklee NYC
Book/Music/Lyrics
Heathers
Cal State Fullerton
Music Director
The Toxic Avenger
Cypress College
Music Director
Edges
Cypress College
Music Director / Orchestrator
The Addams Family
Woodbridge High School, Irvine
Music Director
Mamma Mia
San Clemente High School
Music Director
The Wedding Singer
The Triton Center
Music Director
Assassins
Saddleback College
Music Director
Spring Awakening (Regional Premiere)
OCPAC – Founders Hall
Director
BARE: A Pop Opera
Young Americans College of the Arts
Director / MD
BARE: A Pop Opera (Regional Premiere)
OCPAC – Founders Hall
Music Director
13 – Jason Robert Brown
OCPAC – Samueli Hall
Music Director
Shrek
Saddleback College
Director / Music Director
Into the Woods
Musical Theatre University
Music Director
A Chorus Line
McCoy/Rigby Summer stock
Music Director
Children of Eden
Saddleback College
Music Director
Cats
Encore Education Corporation
Director
Les Misérables (Choral/Orchestral)
Encore Education Corporation
Director
Boeing Boeing
San Clemente High School
Director
A Christmas Carol
Saddleback College
Composer–Lyricist
A Christmas Carol
The Public Theatre of Long Beach
Composer–Lyricist
A Christmas Carol
Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Director
Economy Class
New Musicals Initiative (ANMT)
Composer–Lyricist
Peter Pan
Orange County Children's Theatre
Composer
The Journey
Saddleback College
Composer–Lyricist
Hair
Cypress College
Music Director
Evening With Jeff Marx
Musical Theatre University
Music Director
Carol Channing's 90th Birthday Concert
Channing-Kullijan Foundation
Music Director
Evening with Stephen Schwartz
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Vocal Director
OCSA 20th Anniversary
Orange County Performing Arts Center
Music Director
Performing With The Pros
Featuring Lindsay Mendez
Music Director
High Fidelity / Aging Out / Invisible
New Works Program, Saddleback College
Music Director
Lucky Stiff
Musical Theatre University
Vocal Director
Square Roots
No Square Theatre
Music Director
TEACHING & ARTS LEADERSHIP
Build the artist.
Build the environment.
David’s work in education connects performance training with the structures that support it: clear curriculum, useful feedback, thoughtful assessment, and opportunities to put the work on stage.
Young Americans College of Arts
ADJUNCT FACULTY · 2010–2014
Created Musical Theatre and Vocal MasterClass courses and helped develop Student Learning Objective rubrics for accreditation. Taught Musical Theatre, Private and Semi-Private Voice, Vocal MasterClass, Beginning Piano, Audition Techniques, and Vocal Techniques 1–3. Supported professional preparation through résumés, headshots, and portfolio websites.
Saddleback College
ADJUNCT FACULTY · 2008–2014
Co-created and music directed the New Works Program, giving original musicals a staged-reading development process. Worked on mainstage productions and special events, served as music director and choreographer for College for Kids, and wrote music and lyrics for A Christmas Carol and The Journey.
Orange County School of the Arts
MUSICAL THEATRE DEPARTMENT · 2003–2008
Taught Music Theory, Commercial Voice (pop, rock, and jazz), Choir, A Cappella, and Audition Techniques. Founded Unplugged, an a cappella ensemble that performed regionally and supported fundraising. Music directed the interdepartmental Montage ensemble with a 25-piece jazz band and created instrumental and choral arrangements. Contributed vocal direction to the school’s 20th anniversary gala.
San Clemente High School
DRAMA TEACHER & MUSIC DIRECTOR · 2018–2019
Taught Beginning Acting and Musical Theatre Workshop, helping students connect scene work and musical performance. Music directed mainstage productions and directed Boeing Boeing.
Encore Education Corporation
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARTS & TEACHERS · 2015–2017
Hired and trained faculty across multiple arts high school campuses. Developed arts curriculum, registered A–G college-preparatory courses, and built assessment rubrics for placement. Oversaw production licensing, venue arrangements, budgets, and directors, and supported the opening of the Riverside arts high school through enrollment, marketing, and communications work.
Musical Theatre University
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & MUSIC DIRECTOR
Served as co-artistic director with Jonelle Allen, cast and directed three productions annually, mentored students, and contributed to program and grant narratives. Music directed the Fashion Island Tree Lighting performance for an audience of more than 10,000.
McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts
MUSIC DIRECTOR & TEACHING ARTIST
Worked with young performers in a professional summer stock model. Served as conductor and pianist for masterclasses with Scott Alan, Ryan Scott Oliver, and casting director Julia Flores.
What this brings to your coaching
A clear explanation. Specific feedback. A chance to try again. Whether you are preparing for an audition or developing a song, the work starts with your current experience and a practical next step.
FROM THE WRITING DESK
Songs begin
with a story.
Writing musical theatre keeps me asking the same questions I bring into coaching: Who is speaking? What do they need? Why does this moment need to be sung?
My work includes book, music, and lyrics for Angel’s Playhouse, alongside original musicals and collaborations in development.
MUSICAL THEATRE SONGWRITING
The next chapter
is taking shape.
I’m putting together a new listening portfolio of my musical theatre writing. The playlist will live here as the collection develops.
In the meantime, explore current projects and songwriting on my music website.
LET’S WORK ON YOUR NEXT STEP
Bring your voice.
Let’s find what clicks.
A biography can tell you where I’ve worked. A session lets you experience how we work together. Bring a song, a scene, or an audition piece to a free 30-minute Zoom session.
Real coaching + assessment · Practical feedback · No obligation