Jack of All Trades, Master of One
Scott Wasserman Works His Way to Broadway
School of Music
written by
Pam Wigley
From the time Scott Wasserman experienced his love of music, he was always willing to try new things. If he didn’t know something, he learned it — in the classroom or on his own. His willingness to be flexible and build his portfolio with a wide range of knowledge within the music industry eventually landed him one of the greatest gigs on the planet: being involved on the ground floor of the history-making musical, “Hamilton.”
A 2010 Carnegie Mellon University School of Music graduate who majored in composition with a minor in voice, Wasserman grew up in East Hampton, Conn. His father played clarinet and saxophone; his mother was a huge music fan. Wasserman went on to play the trumpet in his high school jazz band, and he found inspiration and encouragement from Curt Weybright, his band and choral director. He encouraged Wasserman to pursue his love of composing, something that Wasserman had been dabbling in since middle school and began seriously focusing on in high school.
When it was time to look for colleges, Wasserman researched online and found Carnegie Mellon.
"I liked the conservatory model within a larger university environment. It provided me with the ability to explore my options."
Scott Wasserman
CMU became his first choice for not only that reason, but also because he felt comfortable in Pittsburgh, which he called a “good blend of a big city, but not too big.” He connected with his tour guide, Kate Pukinskis, who now serves on the School of Music faculty as assistant professor of music and chair of the Contemporary Creative Practice Division. Wasserman maintains contact with Pukinskis and returned to CMU’s campus in September 2023 to do a workshop with students. He also serves as a member of the CFA Dean’s Council.
Fondly remembering Pirates games, the Warhol Museum and Pittsburgh’s “foodie scene,” Wasserman said he kept his eye on his ultimate goal: get to New York City and be part of the music and theater industry there.
Following graduation in 2010, he saved up for six months and made the first step in his journey by moving to NYC in December of that year. He knew he had to make connections in order to find work, so Wasserman started as an accompanist for Musical Theater College Auditions and began music directing elementary school musicals for additional experience. Music assistant roles followed as he focused on being a “jack of all trades” and continued to build his network.
“I was fortunate because I met people who would refer me to jobs when they couldn’t take on any more work,” Wasserman said. “Matt Aument was one of the first to suggest me for his overflow work, and I was really grateful.” [Note: Aument graduated from CMU’s School of Music in 2010 with a BFA in music direction.]
Wasserman’s first Broadway show was “Leap of Faith” in 2012. He was the music assistant on the production, which meant he would transcribe songs, handle score upkeep and organization, and attend to other music department needs. While visiting rehearsals for “The Nutty Professor” with his then-girlfriend (now wife), Meghan, he met Todd Ellison, who was the music director and conductor of the 2012 Broadway revival of “Annie.” He offered Wasserman a job.
Wasserman working with Alex Lacamoire on "Hamilton."
Through that role, Wasserman met Alex Lacamoire, who wrote the dance arrangements for the production, and Andy Blankenbuehler, who was choreographing the show. They were in workshops on a new production and, recognizing Wasserman’s talent, they invited him to the workshops on the new show, which was “Hamilton.” Wasserman accepted the opportunity and quickly became ensconced in the historic retelling of American history through the eyes of Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“Through our workshops, I heard Lin’s original songs and then transcribed the demos,” Wasserman recalled.
"The style of musical that was being created by Lin and the team was incredibly unique. It was an honor to witness their process and to be a part of the show’s creation."
Scott Wasserman
During the workshops, which ran from fall 2012 to spring 2015, Wasserman learned about Ableton Live, a dee-jaying software that allows for electronic music playback to be integrated into a musical’s orchestration. The program can also work in conjunction with lighting, so that lights can change on specific beats within the music. Wasserman taught himself the Ableton software and earned the title of Ableton Programmer on the “Hamilton” production team.
He went on to work as Ableton Programmer for “Dear Evan Hanson” and “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,” refining his skills as the software evolved. Now, Wasserman is the go-to Ableton expert on many of Broadway’s shows. He works on multiple productions simultaneously, given the three- to eight-year cycle from development of a production to its stage debut.
In 2016, he and Meghan married, and his career is thriving. He took a break during the COVID pandemic to become certified as a wine sommelier, a side gig he truly enjoys. Still, music remains his love.
His advice to students and recent alumni is to continue to learn and absorb all they can. “Get out and expand your education,” Wasserman said. “Don’t fear technology. Our jobs are not going to be taken by computers. They are going to be taken by people who know how to use computers.”
featuring the following:
images courtesy of Scott Wasserman
