Jonathan is a New York based composer, music director, arranger, and pianist. He earned his bachelor's degree in music theory and composition from the College of Fine Arts at Boston University.
He works for Musicnotes.com as an arranger and transcribes newly released music weekly for their SingerPro collection, . He also arranges for their new Audition Cuts platform, alongside Sheri Sanders, the queen of pop/rock musical theatre and the pioneer behind Rock The Audition.
Credits as Music Director / Conductor / Key 1 include: National tour: Cirque Musica: Holiday Spectacular. Regional: Hairspray, Spring Awakening, Legally Blonde, The Little Mermaid, Cabaret and Mamma Mia at the Argyle Theatre, and Annie and Singin' In The Rain at the John W. Engeman Theatre. Additional Music Director credits include: The Runaway Clone (NYMF) and Shelter (NYMF), the Julie Andrews Tribute concert at 54 Below, and readings(NYC): Fetching Water, Fluffy The Pine, Gunshow, and more.
As a composer, Jonathan is continuing to workshop his most recent musical, Sapien Sapien Sapien, co-written with Mia Capotorto Sommese. After mounting two staged productions, the show was invited to perform at NYTheatreBarn's New Works Series. His first musical, The Runaway Clone, co-written with Pamela Eberhardt and directed by Joe Barros (Gigi, Beaches) was featured in the 2015 NYMF Festival- "...composer Jonathan Brenner’s melodies are remarkable and, truly, uncloneable." Broadway.com. Additional commissioned work as both a composer and arranger can be found under the WATCH and LISTEN pages above.
Special projects include: The Loreal Paris Gala where Jonathan was commissioned to music direct and vocally arrange an opening act for an evening with multiple Grammy award winner and “Queen of Soul” the late Aretha Franklin. Jonathan also worked with Jordan Roth, as a composer, arranger, and co-producer, for his original web series The Birds & The BS, guest starring: Bernadette Peters, Tituss Burgess, Mandy Patinkin, Laura Benanti, Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Sutton Foster and Billy Porter.
As an accompanist, Jonathan has played for masterclasses led by: Christy Altomare, Susan Blackwell, Sierra Boggess, Alex Brightman, Andréa Burns, Tina Marie Casamento Libby, Bob Cline, Jenn Colella, Corey Cott, Eden Espinosa, Michelle Federer, Drew Gasparini, Alexander Gemignani, Randy Graff, Derek Klena, Beth Leavel, Caissie Levy, Taylor Louderman, Megan McGinnis, Lindsay Mendez, Laura Osnes, Mamie Parris, Alice Ripley, Will Roland, Sheri Sanders, Paul Schaefer, and Wesley Taylor.
Other performance credits include playing for the Broadway Sings concert series, as well as various concerts and special events at Green Room 42, 54 Below, The Bitter End, Le Poisson Rouge, The Duplex and Rockwood Music Hall.
As an educator, Jonathan serves as the Music Supervisor and Department Head for Broadway Artists Alliance, where he works as a music director, arranger, accompanist, and coach. He works as an accompanist and arranger for The Broadway Collective. Additionally he has worked as an accompanist at NYU and as an accompanist and assistant to David Loud at the Manhattan School Of Music.
Charity work includes: Music Director/Arranger/Composer for Co/Lab Theatre Group annual benefit concerts at Rockwood Music Hall and Green Room 42, as well as original material for performance classes. Additional charity work includes: Gathered NYC: The Broadway Collective, The Easter Bonnet Competition (Minskoff Theatre), Music for Autism NYC, and Chickenshed NYC.
Jonathan offers a wide array of services in music arranging, transcription and copy work. He offers private lessons and coachings in: audition prep, rep building, song interp, music theory, voice and piano. He also offers professional studio recording services for vocalists, voice-over work, and more.