Bill Sherman

Bill Sherman
Born
William Sherman

New York
EducationWesleyan University
EraContemporary

Bill Sherman is an American composer, producer, arranger, and orchestrator. He is known for his work on In the Heights, Hamilton, and Sesame Street. Sherman is also a member of Team Supreme that co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast.

Biography

Sherman was born in New York to Susan B. Sherman and Dr. Fredrick T. Sherman. Sherman graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 2002. In 2003, he joined his roommate Lin-Manuel Miranda to form the freestyle rap group Freestyle Love Supreme, while also working with Miranda to orchestrate and arrange the music for In the Heights. His work on In the Heights won him the 2008 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations and the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. He collaborated again with Miranda to produce the Hamilton album, for which he won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

Sherman is the musical director for several Sesame Workshop shows, including Sesame Street, for which he has written over 3000 songs. He has won three Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation" for his work on Sesame street: "What I Am" in 2011, "The Power of Yet" in 2015, and "A Song About Songs" in 2018.

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2008 In the Heights Orchestrator, arranger Broadway, Richard Rodgers Theatre
2019 Freestyle Love Supreme Musical Supervisor Broadway, Booth Theatre
2021
2022 & Juliet Orchestrator, arranger Broadway, Stephen Sondheim Theatre

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2007 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Orchestrations In the Heights Nominated
2008 Tony Awards Best Orchestrations Won
2011 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation "What I Am" from Sesame Street Won
2015 "The Power of Yet" from Sesame Street Won
Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Hamilton as producer Won
2018 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Song – Children’s and Animation "A Song About Songs" from Sesame Street Won
2023 Tony Awards Best Orchestrations & Juliet Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Orchestrations Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Kristen Kirkland and Bill Sherman". The New York Times. March 20, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ "More Notable Alumni - About - Wesleyan University". www.wesleyan.edu. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  3. ↑ Schulman, Michael. "The Beatboxing Brains of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Improv Group". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  4. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (September 13, 2019). "How Freestyle Love Supreme Made the 16-Year Journey to Broadway". Vulture. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  5. ↑ "2008 Tony Award Winners". The New York Times. June 15, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  6. ↑ Gans, Andrew (February 8, 2009). "In the Heights Cast Recording Wins Grammy; Hudson and LuPone-McDonald 'Mahagonny' Also Win". Playbill. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Bill Sherman". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ Stage Tube (March 3, 2019). "VIDEO: Bill Sherman Discusses His Work on SESAME STREET and His Responsibility to the Children on TODAY". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Oh, What a Day!". www.ascap.com (Press release). June 22, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR THE 42nd ANNUAL DAYTIME CREATIVE ARTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". emmyonline.com (Press release). The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. April 24, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  11. ↑ "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR THE 42nd ANNUAL DAYTIME CREATIVE ARTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences" (PDF). emmyonline.com (Press release). The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Bill Sherman – Awards and Nominations". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Bill Sherman – Awards and Nominations". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Oh, What a Day!". www.ascap.com (Press release). June 22, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  15. ↑ "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR THE 42nd ANNUAL DAYTIME CREATIVE ARTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". emmyonline.com (Press release). The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. April 24, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Bill Sherman". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019.
  17. ↑ "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR THE 42nd ANNUAL DAYTIME CREATIVE ARTS EMMY® AWARDS | The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences" (PDF). emmyonline.com (Press release). The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Bill Sherman – Awards and Nominations". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 4, 2025.