Jesse Vargas is an internationally working Music Director, Arranger, Orchestrator, Composer, and Music Producer whose work spans television, Broadway, live entertainment, and themed experiences.
His television credits include orchestrations for The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and the original song “Fat Bitch” (songwriter & producer) for Freeform’s Good Trouble.
On Broadway, Jesse contributed arrangements, orchestrations, and music supervision to productions including Glory Days and The Ritz. Off-Broadway highlights include serving as Music Director and Vocal Arranger for bare: A Pop Opera, and providing arrangements and orchestrations for Rooms: A Rock Romance, Saved, and Shida. His additional theatrical arranging and orchestration work includes Invincible – The Musical (featuring the Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo song catalog), A Little More Alive, DCM, White Noise, One Hit Wonder, The Santa Switch, Peep Show, Asphalt Beach, Bright Lights, Big City, and Hair in Concert—the latter earning a Grammy Award nomination.
From 2004–2008, Jesse served as Music Director for Clay Aiken, conducting and arranging multiple tours, and later performed as MD/keyboardist/arranger for the funk/soul band Nick Blaemire and The Hustle. He has collaborated with artists and groups including The Boyband Project, The Midtown Men, Brian Justin Crum, and Daniel Reichard, and produced, arranged, and orchestrated albums for Scott Alan, Kooman & Dimond, Daniel Reichard, Michael Longoria, and others.
For the past decade, Jesse has been the Music Supervisor for FOR THE RECORD LIVE, overseeing and shaping the company’s signature cinematic concert experiences. His arrangements and orchestrations anchor many of FTR’s most celebrated productions, including BAZ – Star Crossed Love (The Venetian, Las Vegas), The Brat Pack (Norwegian Cruise Line & Break Room 86), Tarantino – Pulp Rock, Scorsese – American Crime Requiem (The Wallis Annenberg Center), and the critically acclaimed holiday staple Love Actually Live.
Jesse also composes, produces, and arranges music for international themed entertainment, including projects for Europa Park (Germany). RWS, and MSC Cruise Lines and has written original music for Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge.