A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Michael began his viola studies at the age of seventeen and continued his education with Masao Kawasaki and Dr. Catharine Lees earning a Bachelor of Music at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Moving to Louisville, Michael completed a Master of Music at the University of Louisville’s School of Music with Dr. Chien-Ju Liao. He was a member of the Graduate String Quartet and also served as principal viola and teaching assistant to the viola studio throughout the program. He served as principal viola for the KMEA Intercollegiate All-State Orchestra, and has appeared as a guest soloist for KMEA.

Continuing Suzuki teacher training, Michael has completed Violin Books 1-10 through long-term form teacher training under Dr. Timothy Durbin, and is working his way through the viola courses each summer with William Preucil, Sr. He teaches through the Louisville Academy of Music and is often a guest for college and pre-college masterclasses and competitions in Louisville and surrounding areas. Michael has served as the coordinator for the Weisberg Program, providing violin, viola, and cello instruments, lessons, and group classes influenced by the Suzuki Method in local elementary schools, and as director of the Louisville Suzuki String Institute and the Suzuki Studies Program at the University of Louisville. He currently teaches violin, viola, and chamber music at the Louisville Academy of Music.

He completed a Master of Music in Viola Pedagogy in 2016, and continues to teach violin, viola, Suzuki group classes, and chamber music in and around Louisville. As a one-year lecturer of viola, Michael has taught applied viola lessons and viola literature courses for the undergraduate and graduate violists at the University of Louisville. He has also taught applied violin lessons at Western Kentucky University and Georgetown College.

Michael was invited to join the Sarajevo Philharmonic (BiH) for a one year assistantship in 2016-2017, unfortunately it was just slightly too far from home. Nearer performance opportunities have included Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra's winter institute 2019 and the Berwick Academy Orchestra as part of the Oregon Bach Festival 2022 & 2023, Bourbon Baroque, and Seven Hills Baroque (Cincinnati) on histroical/baroque viola. Modern viola performances include orchestra, opera, ballet, musicals, and pops concerts ranging from the Louisville Orchestra, Louisville Ballet, Paducah Symphony, Evansville Philharmoic, Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Chamber Orchestra, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, and Broadway Across America.

Michael has performed as an orchestral and chamber musician at the Aspen Musical Festival and School and as principal violist with the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy.  Michael is in demand on both modern and Baroque instruments, with much knowledge gained from Nico Fortin, founding member of Bourbon Baroque. He is currently a member of the viola section in the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and principal violist for the Lexington Chamber Orchestra and regularly performs as a guest musician for orchestras near and far.

He teaches through the Louisville Academy of Music and visits local schools regularly for sectionals, chamber music coaching, and performances and demonstrations. Michael has been a guest for masterclasses for college and pre-college students in Louisville and surrounding areas as well as a guest judge for various youth competitions. He has collaborated on recitals and recording projects with several performers and composers in the area.

In his spare time Michael enjoys exploring the city of Louisville and spending time at home trying new vegan-friendly recipes and gardening.