Founder and CEO

Billy Jay Stein

Billy has loved music and science since he was a little kid. He began his piano training at an early age as a private student of the world-renowned concert pianist, Edward Edson. After saving up money from his paper route, he bought his first synth at the age of 11, the Moog Source. In junior high school, he created a mini recording studio in his bedroom.

When he was a freshman studying Neuroscience and Music at the University of Pennsylvania, he joined the Rock & Roll band, The Hatters. They built a huge following of college students and ultimately got a recording contract with Atlantic Records, releasing three albums. After graduation in 1991, they jumped on a bus and spent five years on the road, living in the mountains of Nederland, Colorado during breaks.

After The Hatters broke up in 1996, Stein moved to NYC, added more gear to his collection and started his company, STRANGE CRANIUM (a nod to his Neuroscience degree).

In 1996 while writing music for VH1, he met Michael Rosen, an accomplished television producer and songwriter. They had collaborated on several television series, and realized that by combining their expertise, experience, and insight, they could create a very user-friendly, world-class music catalogue. In 2006 they formed STRIKE AUDIO.

In 2008, Billy met synthesis master, Hiro Iida. In 2011, they began work on Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark with Bono and The Edge. They ran 8 MacBook desktop computers with an early version of MainStage and MainBrain, developed by Dave Linnenbank. Since Spider-Man, the STRANGE CRANIUM team has grown and is now responsible for programming and the electronic music design of over 100 shows.

Billy Jay Stein received the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album as the music producer and mixer of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.

Head Programmer and Studio Manager

Hiro Iida

Iida was born in Tokyo, Japan, and has been a part of the team at STRANGE CRANIUM since 2008.

He studied Music Synthesis at Berklee College of Music from 1985 to 1989, and was an instructor at the Berklee Music Synthesis Department from 1990 to 1997.

His credits include synthesist/composer for the following: Akiko Yano, Brecker Brothers, Richard Bona, Ithamara Koorax, Arto Lindsey, Red+Hot benefit, DreamWorks (soundtrack: WitchBlade), Slide Hampton, Lyle Mays, Ron Carter, Jan Hammer, Tom Coster, New York Voices, Mino Cinelu, SEGA, SONY PlayStation, Panasonic (DVD-Audio, Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank, SHISEIDO, FedEx, JVC Victor, Uniqlo, Apple Music.

He was also the director/composer: New York Fashion Week / Chado: Ralph Rucci, Fall/Winter 1999-Fall/Winter 2012, and the 2nd Studio music director at WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) from 2005 to 2008.

Hiro is a member of The Board of Advisors at The Bob Moog Foundation.

Business and Music Coordinator

Jason Howland

Jason Howland − an honors graduate of Williams College (1993) − is a Grammy Award winning producer, Emmy Award winning arranger, and Tony nominated producer. He is the composer of Broadway’s 2005 Tony Award nominated Little Women – The Musical; Ikiru – The Musical, premiering in Tokyo October 2018; and Last Days of Summer, world premiere September 2018 at the Kansas City Repertory Theater.

Howland has been a musical director, arranger and conductor on Broadway for twenty years. He is the arranger and music supervisor for the smash hit Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Broadway, West End, US National Tour, Tokyo, Australian National Tour, UK National Tour) for which he won a Grammy Award. He has served as musical supervisor/ director/conductor and arranger for Broadway’s Bonnie and Clyde, Wonderland, Jekyll & Hyde, Les Miserables, The Civil War, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Boy George’s Taboo, in addition to guest-conducting the Broadway musical sensation Spider-Man.

Howland arranged and supervised the touring production of the hit film Flashdance, and supervised the US National Tour of the mega-band Queen’s hit musical We Will Rock You. Most recently Howland orchestrated and arranged the stage adaptation of the Japanese Anime sensation Death Note which had its world premiere in Tokyo in April of 2015, and orchestrated and supervised the world premiere of Mata Hari for Seoul-based EMK.

He has worked extensively world-wide as an arranger, orchestrator, programmer and music producer for touring productions and has worked as a composer, arranger, conductor, and producer on a number of recording projects. He is the proud father of Nina and Noah.

MainBrain Developer and Head Coder

Dave Linnenbank

Dave Linnenbank started piano lessons at the age of six. When he wanted to quit one day, his Dad bribed him with ice cream and got him to keep playing. And so it began.

After forays with trumpet, guitar, and singing, Dave landed at Berklee College of Music to study film scoring, but quickly found his footing with music technology and sound synthesis. Making tools for other artists became a particular joy, connecting a knowledge of modern technology with lessons of musicianship and tasteful performance. The results have been used by Gotye, James Taylor, and regular music producers and students of all stripes. Through his association with Billy and Hiro, Dave has built software to run the nightly performances of both touring and on-Broadway musicals.

When not at home with his family or playing in the church band, Dave works on other media system projects, writes user manuals, and sometimes teaches. He even released an album once. It was pretty good.

Head MainBrain, Ableton Live and Max Programmer

Chris Petti

Berklee College Music Synthesis graduate, Chris has worn a variety of hats in his professional career, ranging from sales, marketing, and product development over a 10 year run with hardware and software giants Korg, Line 6, and Propellerhead. He then moved into music education and into building one of the world’s most successful physical and online courses in music production and performance with Ableton Live.

Working with some of the top Techno DJs, Chris has also produced tracks danced to by tens of thousands of party-goers across the globe. As one of the world’s top experts in Ableton Live, and being a member of the elite Ableton Certified Trainers team, Chris now focuses on building and programming custom MainBrain systems for shows of all sizes.

Associate Programmer

Hien Nguyen

HIEN NGUYEN is a Brooklyn based sound designer, synth programmer, composer, and singer. She received a Bachelor of Music in Electronic Production & Design and Professional Music from the Berklee College of Music. Ethereal vocals meshing with lush textures and minimal beats – her eclectic sonic identity has been influenced by a wide variation of sounds, from electronica to soul and traditional Eastern styles. The Vietnamese-Hungarian artist started her singer career at the age of 15. She has released two pop albums, played the leading role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon and has performed in various cities across Europe, Asia and the United States. Hien’s career has included accolades such as Glamour’s “Woman of the Year” and the Viva Comet award

Associate Programmer and Head Copyist

James Olmstead

Olmstead’s recent music supervising credits include the 2017 National Tour of Fame and the East Coast Regional Premiere of Mamma Mia. Music directing credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, White Christmas and Memphis at the John W. Engeman Theatre, Guys and Dolls and West Side Story at The Wick Theatre. On Broadway, he was conductor for On Your Feet and keyboardist on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Beautiful: The Carole King Story, as well as both the Spring and Summer versions of Radio City’s New York Spectacular.

He conducted the Cirque Holiday Spectacular 2016 and 2017 tours and was the copyist for The Public Theater’s Southern Comfort and On Your Feet First National Tour. Additionally, he was the keyboard programmer for the original Off-Broadway version of Fun Home, 2016 tour of Carefree: Dancin’ with Fred and Ginger and A Chorus Line at the Hollywood Bowl.
Most recently, James was assistant music director on the Off-Broadway production of A Letter to Harvey Milk and music director for the John W. Engeman Theatre’s production of Once. His personal projects include composing musicals, including Mambo Italiano and the award-winning NYMF 2013 production of Gary Goldfarb: Master Escapist with lyricist, Omri Schein.

MAX/MSP programmer

Cleo Reed

Cleo Reed is a student of black underground sound and intention. She reaches deeply into her own lineage and uses it as a reference in both music and multimedia art. She produces and designs soundscapes, compositional and popular music works, in addition to mixing, mastering, and editing her own music and visuals. Recently, Cleo sharpened her electrical engineering skills by building her own 10-inch studio monitors and programming a video art plug-in. To cradle these crafts, she looked to their histories, completing courses and personal research studies centered around Max/MSP, DSP, electroacoustics, and circuit bending.

At 19, Cleo named herself after Cleophus, her great grandmother and a fellow Aquarius. Cleo possesses a deep commitment to women and non-binary people within the communities she inhabits. Whether underground or academic, experimental or popular, Cleo expresses musicianship guided by her radiance, femininity, and cyclical traumas. 

Associate Programmer

Fuso Murase

Murase was born in Japan, and has been part of the team at STRANGE CRANIUM since 2014. He studied Music Synthesis at Berklee College of Music from 1996 to 2000.

He has worked as a Live Sound engineer for over 15 years in New York City.

Associate Programmer

Mami Matsuura

Mami Matsuura is a pianist based in NYC. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2019, where she learned piano performance and electronic music design, and gained opportunities as an accompanist, pit musician, and music director.
Her career includes a role as the Keyboard 1 for the CATS North American Tour from 2021 to 2023. She currently serves as a rehearsal pianist for the Back to the Future on Broadway. Her other past credits include Red Bucket Follies, Big Fish, Wizard of Oz, and Poupelle of Chimney Town.

Master Technician

Takeshi Kawana

Associate Programmer

Adam Wiggins

Adam is a pianist / music director / arranger based out of New York City. Originally from Houston, Adam has been living and working in China, Argentina, and throughout the United States since 2007. His arrangements can be heard on the recently released Off-Broadway album for A Strange Loop (Michael R. Jackson) which is currently at #2 on the iTunes soundtrack charts. His keyboard programming has been heard all over the world, including multiple productions of Wicked currently running in Australia. Adam is also a proud member of the Musicians’ Local 802.

Associate Programmer

Ethan Deppe

Ethan is a Chicago based composer, electronic music designer, and producer. His love affair with music technology was a happy accident when an Apple support rep casually recommended pairing MainStage with a newly acquired MalletKAT for a pit gig he was playing in late 2007. Being an early adopter of the software, Ethan was perfectly positioned to be at the leading edge of modern electronic music design for the theatre. As a co-founder of KeyboardTEK, Ethan and his partners also strive to make professional grade programming available to the amateur market, simultaneously elevating production values and giving extended life to some of the most iconic original designs from Broadway and the West End.

Ethan produces his own music under the name The Quiet Regret.

MainStage and MainBrain Programmer

Harrison Roth

Based in NYC, Harrison Roth is a multi-disciplinary artist with skills and experience in Music Direction, Electronic Music Design, Orchestration, Music Preparation, and more. Harrison is thrilled to be a team member and Electronic Music Designer for Strange Cranium Productions.

Recent credits include the U.S. National Tour of Shrek the Musical (Music Director), Playhouse Square’s production of Bare (Music Director), The Cleveland Orchestra’s production of The Sound of Music (Associate Music Director), and a revival of Songs From an Unmade Bed at 54 Below (MD and additional orchestrations). Harrison’s Music Direction and orchestration work has been featured at venues across the U.S. and Canada such as Mirvish Productions, the Lexington Theatre Company, and more.

With a Bachelor of Music in Music Direction from Baldwin Wallace University, Harrison has a diverse background in conducting, piano performance, music technology, vocal performance, and vocal pedagogy.

Mainstage and MainBrain Programmer

Steven Tran

Steven Tran makes music for the stage and dancefloor through his work as a music producer, DJ, orchestrator, and composer. Some favorite credits include: co-composer/music production/music supervisor for Lydia and the Troll (Seattle Rep) (Best New Music – Heilman & Haver). Music director for the Drama Desk-nominated Lizard Boy (Off-Broadway, UK, OSF). Original music for Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show (Webby Award Honoree). MD/orchestrator for The Mortification of Fovea Munson (The Kennedy Center) and And So That Happened… (The 5th Avenue Theatre). Co-orchestrator for Yoko’s Husband’s Killer’s Japanese Wife, Gloria (NMTC at the O’Neill, NAMT). Composer: Stars Between (Seattle Opera Creation Lab 2021). His autobiographical solo performance The Sonata Years was a semifinalist for the 2021 National Playwrights Conference. Producer/DJ of nightlife events Saturn Returns, Sonic Magic, Bao x Khoa. Yaddo resident 2025. IG @steven_nk_tran

MainStage and MainBrain Programmer

Sharon Ahn

Sharon Ahn is a NJ-based/NYC-adjacent songwriter, composer, performer, keyboard instrumentalist (piano, carillon, organ), music tech enthusiast, and music director. A fan of new and devised works, improvisation, warm sounds, open tunings, and the DIY ethos, in constant pursuit of human connection, love, and community. Member of MUSE and Maestra. B.A. in Music from Yale University.

Past credits include We Are Your Robots (Assistant Ableton Programmer – TFANA) and Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert (Keyboard 2 – North American tour).

Systems Engineer

Hiudeyuki Waki

Hiudeyuki Waki is a sound engineer based in New York with over 15 years of experience. A Japan native with a deep love for music and technology, he brings precision, passion, and technical expertise to every project.

Associate Programmer

Jacob Rose

Jacob Rose is a NYC-based pianist, music director, and electronic music designer. Jacob completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester in Business Information Systems, with minors in Audio and Music Engineering and Music. While at school, Jacob music directed, conducted, arranged for, and played in many student and professional theatrical productions. He also served as recording engineer and producer for many sessions as a part of the Audio and Music Engineering program.

Recent credits: Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (University of Rochester International Theatre Program), Ordinary Days (SUNY Brockport), The Boy From Oz (OFC Creations), Ragtime (Interlochen Center for the Arts).

Jacob is a proud member of the AFM Local 802, GRAMMY U, and Maestra. Beyond Jacob’s professional pursuits, he is passionate about making spreadsheets, cooking, and Star Wars. He also has edited Seasons 4 and 5 of the Eastman School of Music’s podcast, Careers in Crescendo: Lessons for Musicians, featuring guests and alumni of the school. Thanks to mentors Alexandra Suhoy, Zachary Peterson, Joseph Janover, and George Luton. www.jrosemusic.org @j.rose.music

Associate Programmer

Cheiong Kim

Cheong, also known as CASEY HEYO, is a pianist, producer, and musical director. She graduated from Berklee College of Music with a major Contemporary Writing & Production. She then moved to LA where she grew her career as a performer, producer, and music curator.

She played keyboard on Mamma Mia the Musical at Lake Dillon Theatre Company and was a Music Director for a musical, Cast Goes to the Movies in Secaucus, NJ.

As much as she produces her own music, Cheong writes KPOP lyrics and plays on different artists’ productions.

Associate Programmer

Ko Tanaka

Ko Tanaka is an NYC-based composer, conductor, music director, and storyteller. He has been writing and producing show music for theaters/show business for U.S., Canada, and Japan. He graduated from Berklee College of Music, studied a major in Contemporary Writing and Production.

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As he grew up with many Japanese modern cultures such as Anime, Manga, and Pop-Music, he’s passionate about expressing stories. He started playing instruments at the age of 16 and started his professional music writing career at age of 19.

After a couple of years of being a composer for a Japanese video game company, he listened and was impressed by Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods”. He eventually moved to the U.S. to study theatrical composing and lyric writing.

While working on several theater titles, he recently has been appointed composer for Off-Broadway Musical “Poupelle of Chimney Town” a new musical based on the bestselling Japanese picture book. The musical will open Off-Broadway in 2022.

With his knowledge of MIDI programming, he is also a digital-orchestration masterclass instructor of the international music software exhibition IMSTA FESTA.

MainStage and MainBrain Programmer

Chase Kessler

Chase Kessler is a music director, orchestrator, programmer, and copyist, based in the NYC/NJ area. His passion for theater and technology has fueled his success both on and off stage. Recently, he served as Music Director/Keyboard 1 for the Shrek National Tour. His versatility shines in numerous cabarets and workshops across New York City, and his career includes music directing roles at regional theaters such as the New London Barn Playhouse, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Forestburgh Playhouse, Beck Center for the Arts, and Playhouse Square in Cleveland.

A graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, Chase earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre Music Direction, establishing a solid foundation for his career. Chase Kessler’s dedication to his craft and use of technology in theater make him a valuable asset in theater, entertaining and inspiring audiences and artists alike.

Associate Programmer

Inna Dudukina

Inna Dudukina is a Berklee College of Music alumna; an arranger/orchestrator, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. In Berklee, she dual majored in Contemporary Writing & Production, and Performance; with a Minor in Recording and Production. In addition to her jazz and classical studies, Inna was heavily influenced by ethnic styles of music leading to experimentations in fusing those genres with, among other styles, modal jazz and electronica. A Russian native, Dudukina picked up the ancient Armenian double reed instrument duduk while researching the origins of her surname, and eventually became one of only a handful of female musicians ever playing that instrument. Subsequently, she became the first duduk player in the history of music theater in Tom Kitt’s “The Visitor”. As an arranger and performer, Dudukina has collaborated and shared the stage with illustrious jazz artists such as Gary Burton and Tigran Hamasyan, and acclaimed world music musicians such as Shreya Ghoshal, Zakir Hussain, Layth Sidiq, among others.

Electronic Drum and Percussion Programmer

Sammy Merendino

Sammy Merendino, one of New York City’s top drummers, has been a pioneer in electronic drumming and programming since the early 1980s. His contributions span a wide range of iconic recordings, from Cameo’s Single Life and Word Up! albums to Pat Metheny’s Grammy Award-winning We Live Here. He also created the Ableton and electronic drum programming—and performed—on the multi–Tony Award-winning Broadway show Kinky Boots.

He has recorded and/or performed with a diverse roster of top artists, including Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Foreigner, Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, Ziggy Marley, Hall & Oates, The Beach Boys, Joan Osborne, Anita Baker, Sophie B. Hawkins, Carly Simon, Laurie Anderson, Paul Rodgers, and many others. His credits also include composing, performing, and programming drums on numerous Grammy-winning and multi-platinum recordings, as well as more than 1,000 commercials and television themes, including Monday Night Football with Hank Williams Jr., Nightline, World News Tonight, and ABC Golf.
Sammy runs Harlem Parlour Recording, a state-of-the-art studio located in his Harlem brownstone, outfitted with a blend of vintage and modern gear, tailored for all types of recording projects.

Associate Programmer

Sam Nasar

Based in New York City, Sam Nasar is a composer, orchestrator, programmer, and producer with a focus on original musical theatre and large-scale collaborations. A member of the advanced BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Sam is currently developing new works for both stage and recording.

Recent credits include The Chef with Broadway producer Alexander Robertson, the Off-Broadway revival of Dog Sees God, and Sam & Company—a genre-defying musical theatre album featuring a Broadway all-star cast, a 13-piece live orchestra, and a wide team of collaborators and co-writers. The album is now available on all major streaming platforms.

Additional projects include Unknown World, which has undergone three developmental workshops and a large-scale concert production in Washington, D.C. with a 12-piece band. Sam also co-orchestrated and arranged for a Disney Music Concert Hall performance alongside Rodrigo Amarante (Narcos).

A graduate of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, Sam brings a strong background in composition, orchestration, electronic music design, music direction, and score production. He is actively developing multiple screen-to-stage adaptations in addition to his ongoing theatre and recording projects.

Associate Programmer

Adam Wolfe

Adam Wolfe is an NYC-based drummer/percussionist heard all over the country, on Broadway and beyond. A unique hybrid player, Adam is equally at home on classical/orchestral percussion, behind the drums, and electronics. Adam is sometimes described as a “gear head” and loves to geek out about the latest in drums, percussion, and how to integrate electronic drums and percussion into a fulfilling musical performance.

Recent appearances and credits include: Clueless the Musical, Jerry Springer the Opera, Bandstand, Beetlejuice the Musical, Kiss Me Kate, The Prom, Anastasia, and AVE Q.

Associate Programmer

Alexander Greenberg

Alex is a versatile musician working in New York City and at regional theaters across the country. Originally from Maryland, he studied Piano in Combination with Theater at Ithaca College, graduating magna cum laude. He served as assistant music director for the 2017 national tour of Pippin, where he also was a keyboardist and associate conductor. He has done keyboard programming for several shows at the Tony-award winning Signature Theater in Virginia, most recently for acclaimed productions of Grand Hotel and The Scottsboro Boys, as well as playing keyboard for Crazy for You and Billy Elliot.

In New York, he is a staff pianist for New York University’s Vocal Performance area and is active as a coach, audition pianist, and accompanist across all age levels. He served as music assistant and synth programming associate on Gettin’ the Band Back Together on Broadway, and was the keyboard programmer for BC/EFA’s Broadway Backwards 2019, which raised over $700k for BC/EFA and the LGBT Center.

Associate Programmer

Max Gordon

Max Gordon is a composer and musician based in New York City. He has worked on the music teams of The Band’s Visit, The Cher Show, and Tootsie, and done keyboard programming for Wicked and the Shed Theater at Hudson Yards. Recent composition credits: The Winter’s Tale (TFANA, NY Times Critic Pick), Charles Perry (Verve Records), and collaborations with hip hop choreographer Jennifer Jancuska. B.A. from Yale University.

Associate Programmer

Dana Haynes

Dana Haynes is a jack-of-all-trades musician, producer, composer, music programmer, conductor, music director, music copyist and arranger from Brooklyn, NY. He started his music career as a boy soprano at age 7 in the Battle Creek Boychoir, and though his voice has dropped since then, his love of music has not. His passion for technology, new music and theatrical works has taken him all the way to concert halls, cathedrals, indie rock venues and Broadway.

After receiving dual degrees in choral music education and computer science from the University of Michigan, Dana moved to New York City to pursue a freelance career in the arts. When not programming big budget musicals, he writes and performs and helps bring new works to life in myriad ways. An expert music copyist, he has an active side business providing sheet music services to musicians worldwide via QuickTranspositions.com. He has programmed for a variety of Broadway shows, including MOULIN ROUGE, BEETLEJUICE, KONG, BE MORE CHILL, as well as LEMPICKA at Williamstown Theater Festival.