AS A CHOIR LEADER, Michael has worked with both professional and amateur voices, spanning varied abilities and age ranges from 7 to 70+. Personnel have numbered from small chamber groups to as many as 500 voices. In November 2022, Michael worked with long-standing collaborating colleague Adey Grummet to compose and facilitate the finale song for the Music For Youth Prom in London's Royal Albert Hall, performed by over 3,000 young participants and audience members. More recently, Michael has worked as support vocal leader to Issy Adams for Wigmore Hall's dementia choir initiative Singing With Friends.
SONGS OF ICE
​
December 2018
​
ALL SING COMMUNITY CHOIR
-
Over 40 participants aged 55+
-
Devised the programme
-
Sourced the material
-
Customized arrangements
-
Composed original content
-
Created audio learning files, full demos, scores and lyric sheets
-
Led weekly rehearsals
-
Conducted the concert
-
Hosted the concert
-
Performed in the concert
The follow-up programme, Songs Of Fire (Spring 2019) also necessitated devising a thematically linked workshop which would incorporate the audience as participants.
DEANERY SONG PROJECT
​
June 2016
​
TOWER HAMLET SCHOOLS
​
-
Visited 180 KS2 children across 10 schools
-
Project partner: Adey Grummet
-
Composed "school values" song with lyric input from participants
-
Produced fully orchestrated performance backing track
-
Provided full score, piano reduction, lead sheet, lyric sheet and audio learning files
-
Conducted school-leavers performance for combined year 6 participants.
BLOOMSBURY SONGS
​
October 2016 and 2017
​
BLOOMSBURY FESTIVAL
-
8 school and community choirs aged 7 to 70+ (over 100 participants)
-
Project partner: Emma Bernard
-
Composed suite of songs and chants with quartet accompaniment (violin, tuba, accordion and cajon) for KS2 children
-
Added 5 bespoke songs for adult choirs the following year
-
Provided full score, piano score, lead sheets, instrumental parts and audio learning files
-
Visited and rehearsed choirs separately and together
-
Conducted and rehearsed the instrumental quartet
-
Created a flash-mob introduction for site-specific performance
-
Conducted the performances
​
A SHORT SHOUT
​
August 2014
​
THE SHOUT
​
-
9 professional soloists
-
Devised the programme
-
Devised item links
-
Reduced 16-part arrangements
-
Ensured all participants were featured equally
-
Scheduled and led rehearsals
-
Conducted item links
-
Performed in the concert
-
Choral composition
-
Choral arrangements
-
Choral direction
-
Customised workshops
-
Vocal animateur