Composer
Jonja holds a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Musical Theater Writing (GMTWP).
As a graduate of cycle 33, he studied composition under the instruction of professors Fred Carl, Mindi Dickstein, Mel Marvin, and Michael John LaChiusa.
His work has been featured at 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Soho Playhouse, Fisher Center at Bard, and The African Grove Theatre at Paulson Center
He wrote two thesis musicals while at NYU, The Fallen and Lotus&Jasmine. Another new musical, The Silver Child was featured In Soho Playhouse’s The Lighthouse series in April 2024.
Demos
CURRENT PROJECTS
LOTUS & JASMINE: A New Musical
Lotus & Jasmine is about 2 nannies, one in Hyderabad, India and Berlin, Germany. The nannies left out of the blue(s), so it's Jazz city. And the nannies do agricultural development in 5th world countries of Mars sometimes, that's a stand in for the lack of leisure.
More info to come!
RECENT PROJECTS
DIE GESCHICHTE VOM FUCHS, DER DEN VERSTAND VERLOR
Puppet theater based on the picture book by Martin Baltscheit. Direction by Antonina Brühl. Compositions and Music production by Jonja Merck.
Opening night at Landesbühnen Sachsen, Radebeul on April 5, 2025.
THE SILVER CHILD
Twins A and B are exactly alike and could not be more different. On the morning of their high school awards assembly, Mom gives special treatment to A, as usual. Tired of being overshadowed by her golden-child twin brother, B vows to seize her destiny with both hands. But how far will she go to be seen—and what is she willing to lose?
Originally conceived at NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program in 2023.
THE FALLEN: A NEW MURDER MYSTERY MUSICAL
This new stage musical follows Evelyn, a Death Hunter as she sells and sings ballads on the street to profit from the stories of murders in Victorian London.