Meet Melissa
A passionate performer, trombonist, Melissa Hagstedt has a mission to create safe, inclusive, and accessible environments. Whether she is a performer, teacher, or working in an administrative position, Melissa is committed to ensuring the places she works are welcoming to all. This, “all are welcome” sentiment is echoed in her work with Azure Family Concerts Pittsburgh, a sensory friendly concert series for individuals with autism and their families, which Melissa is a cofounder of. Her drive towards accessibility is further demonstrated through her time as a music lab research assistant for Project Unmute, a research lab for older adults with Alzheimer's and dementia who participate in a music program delivered by teenage musicians. She is a published coauthor for her work in this study in the International Journal of Music, Health, and Wellbeing. Currently, Melissa is a site coordinator for Project Harmony, a community based musical outreach program, and runs her own private lesson studio.
Outside of her outreach work, Melissa is a multifaceted performer, playing music from a broad range of styles. She has performed both across the United States, and the world through her work as a touring musician with the national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2023 and 2024) and the national and international tour of Annie (2024). Additionally, she has performed La Cage aux Folles (2024) with the Barrington Stage Company and 9 to 5 (2025) with Southeastern Summer Theater Institute.
In addition to being a theater musician, Melissa is an accomplished classical musician with degrees from Carnegie Mellon University (MM) and New York University (BM) in trombone performance. She studied with Rebecca Cherian and Dr. Per Brevig. She regularly subs with a number of orchestras including, Rockhill Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Symphony, and Western Piedmont Symphony.
