Accompanist

Damon Smith is a Northeast-based pianist, songwriter, and improviser. He’s a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and performs as a sideman and performer with the legendary “Losers Lounge” series at Joe’s Pub (2014 onward). He started his career at the School of Rock, performing and touring with artists such as Jon Anderson of Yes, Napoleon Murphy Brock of Frank Zappa’s band, and Burlap to Cashmere. He’s played his original music at the Stone, Highline Ballroom, the Knitting Factory, CBGB’s, and the Bitter End, and as a sideman in festivals such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Zappanale. His debut solo album, “Intimate Machinery,” came out on ERASED! tapes in December 2017. His second album “GOD OF THE GRID” came out in March 2019. The “River of Regret” EP followed in November 2020.

Hanjin Sa is a classically trained pianist and conductor. He received a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from DePaul University (Chicago) studying under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed pianist, Eteri Andjaparidze.

Subsequently, he earned his master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh) where he was offered a Conducting Fellowship to study with Professor Emeritus Robert Page and Ronald Zollman. Further, Hanjin attained his Doctorate degree in Conducting from West Virginia University publishing his dissertation on Stravinsky’s Danse sacrale from Le Sacre du printemps.

As a versatile pianist, Hanjin recently performed at Steinway Hall, New York, and he performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, opera and musical theater accompanist, and ballet pianist. Hanjin has served as staff pianist in Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Indiana University Ballet Department, Utopia Opera in New York and is currently working with Lorraine Serabian in her Acting the Song class.

Robert Grusecki is a pianist, conductor, and composer who has been part of the New York theatre and teaching community for 40 years. He has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in regional theatre and cabaret. With collaborator Anya Turner he has written many songs, musicals, revues, and recordings. Their  musicals “Greetings From Yorkville” and “After All, a musical much ado” have been presented Off-Broadway and both shows were named finalist for the Richard Rodgers award. They are currently writing a new project, “Hello, West Forty-Sixth Street”.

George is originally from New Zealand where he was involved in front of and behind the cameras for a variety of different film and television projects such as Xena Warrior Princess, Power Rangers, Braindead, Meet the Feebles, Forgotten Silver and The Frighteners. He is currently in New York performing improv, acting in plays and directing, writing and acting in short films and web series.

Paul Chamlin has accompanied singers at HB Studio for nearly 30 years. Paul has served as Musical Director for many musicals and hundreds of cabarets shows, events, and concerts. Musicals include: PAL JOEY (HB Studio), HIGH SOCIETY, HELLO DOLLY, JOSEPH AND HIS TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (MacHayden Theater, Chatham, NY) , STATE FAIR (Cap21 Conservatory), WATCH YOUR STEP (Musicals Tonight, New York, NY) and HOW TO SUCCED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (Blue Hill Troupe, New York, NY). Concerts/events include: Inside Broadway, Friars Club Diva and Divo Nights, Friars Club Celebrations of Marty Richard, Len Cariou and Ervin Drake, The Actor’s Fund, The Three Tomatoes. Accompanist/repertoire specialist: HB Studio, Musical Theater Intensive at Molloy College, The Paper Mill Conservator, Marymount Manhattan College, Lee Strasberg Drama Institute, Cap 21 Conservatory, Circle in the Square Theater School, New School for Drama, Stella Adler Drama School.