Staff

Matt Oestreicher is a New York City based Bandleader and Producer who for the last 10 years has been a consistent presence on the stage and on the tv screen.  He has been the keyboardist/guitarist/arranger for the world famous Apollo Amateur Night Band for over a decade.  He has performed with a who’s who list of international music artists including Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Snoop Dogg, Neil Diamond, John Legend, Weird Al, Michael Bolton, Jon Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Anita Baker, and many many others.  On tv you may have seen him or heard his music on shows like Showtime at the Apollo on FOX, The Macys Parade on NBC, Night of Too Many Stars on Comedy Central, The Today Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, or the Wendy Williams Show.  As a touring musician he performed on tours like The Lady Gaga Monster Ball Tour, The Weezer/Blink 182 reunion tour, and Anita Bakers Farewell Tour.  On Broadway he was the Music Director and conductor for the revival of Smokey Joe’s Cafe on 42nd Street for which he was nominated for an Audelco Award for Outstanding Music Direction.  He has also played for The Carole King Musical and has recorded music for tv broadcast with the casts of Broadway shows like The Prom, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Tina Turner Musical, and The Donna Summer Musical.   Matt is completing a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling at New York University and holds bachelors degrees from Tufts University and New England Conservatory of Music. Matt has studied meditation and yoga for over 20 years and in 2019 co-wrote the Be You Card Deck for Teens (60 Mindfulness Practices to Manage Anxiety, Build Confidence, and Be the True You.)
www.mattoestreicher.com

Joe Gray was recently featured in the HBO documentary “The Apollo.”  Anyone who’s been to the iconic show Amateur Night at the Apollo any time in the last 25 years knows Joe Gray as “The Set it Off Man.”  His nearly three decade history with The world famous Apollo Theater includes multiple features as a singer-songwriter on the TV show “It’s Showtime At The Apollo.”  In his role as Head of Stage for Amateur Night at The Apollo and oversees the setup and takedown of the show and plays a major role in all Apollo Theater productions.  Mr. Gray has recently received a Grammy certificate for his participation on the Grammy award winning album of Stephen Marley.

In 2018 Matt and Joe received “Men of Action” awards from Reverend Al Sharpton at the National Action Network Gala.

Joe was a featured vocalist on an album by American Idol/Dancing with the Stars music director, Ray Chew. Gray and his crew members began a technical workshop for high school kids some 10 years ago at the theatre which has blossomed into an all out educational department for the theater and is now a major part of their funding.

Alisa Abrams -Oestreicher brings her management and leadership expertise to Your Time to Shine along with her passion for helping children.

One of the founding members of a successful retail fashion boutique in New York; Alisa knows what it is like to work collaboratively with others to meet goals.

Alisa is also a certified holistic health counselor (CHHC) whose mission is nurturing the lives of children. She views health and wellness as a combination of not only the foods we eat, but the happiness we cultivate in our lives.

She is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City, is certified as a holistic health counselor from SUNY Purchase as well as a graduate of Marymount College with a degree in human services.

Isaac Benjamin Allen spent his 28 years between the village of Dryden, New York, Indonesian Borneo, Malaysia, Singapore,and Connecticut, with many places between. As he traveled, he struggled mightily to find balance in a world whose inequities caught his keen eye and increasingly anguished him. He felt for everyone, especially for society’s most vulnerable. In his last year, he came to love even those who had hurt him.Music was his most natural form of expression, as he tried to reflect back what he felt and saw. He was a gifted athlete and dancer, and could be incredibly industrious, or hilarious, when not troubled. Among his inspirations, he started a company in Indonesia to raise money for survivors of natural disastersthrough music concerts.

Isaac died in his sleep on February 18, 2015, finally gaining “merdeka” (Indonesian for ‘free’) which he so wished for so many others.

Horizon Records of West Haven, CT recorded his soulful album, Don’t Smoke, in 2010.