Michael is the composer, lyricist, and bookwriter of three choral oratorios focusing on LGBTQ+ themes: Through A Glass, Darkly, Alexander’s House, and Out Of My Range (And Other Age-Related Performance Issues). He was commissioned to write The Kushner Trilogy, choral settings of three Tony Kushner texts, and Havanasis, a choral setting of the poem by U.S. inaugural poet Richard Blanco. He wrote music and lyrics for three movements of Quiet No More, with a world premiere at Carnegie Hall commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.

He has written music for the stage musicals Go-Go Beach and The Astonishing Return of… The Protagonists! and film scores for Decay, Last Days of Left Eye (VH1 Rock Docs), Brief Reunion, Come Back Anytime, plus several short films.

Michael’s arrangements and his original song “The House Where I Grew Up at Christmas” can be heard on the album The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Broadway’s Lisa Howard, available on all major streaming services.

Upcoming: debut novel The Green Barn.

Michael was born in Detroit and graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with an MFA in Graduate Musical Theatre Writing. Before moving to New York, he performed for 15 years as a classical pianist in Detroit. He lives with his husband, Brent Lord, in New York City and the Hudson Valley.