About Teacher michael (level ii)

Over the past 30 years, Teacher Michael has taught cellists of all ages, including at the Aspen Music Festival Outreach Program, the String Academy of Wisconsin, the Thurnauer School of Music in New Jersey, and at his Fitzpatrick Cello Academy in Los Angeles and Kentucky. He created the Outreach for Strings Program at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music.

Teacher Michael’s foundational studies were with renowned pedagogue Rodney Farrar, who pioneered Suzuki cello teaching from its beginning in the United States. Teacher Michael transmits core principles of a love of music, learning by ear, and developing a strong, technical foundation through repertoire, exercises, and drills that develops students’ reflexes and coordination.

His teaching style is enthusiastic and positive, and is attentive to each students’ level along with their technical and musical needs. He guides students to play with a beautiful tone, precise intonation, a feeling of joy, and to develop and express their own unique musical voice. He has taught Jacob Szekely, the world’s foremost jazz cellist, and Devon Breton-Pokadzi, Principal Cellist of the Yale Symphony Orchestra for their performance at Carnegie Hall.

Teacher Michael is the recipient of The Prince Charles Award for Musical Excellence conferred by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales - now King Charles III. He is a renowned cello soloist who has performed around the world, including at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Bowl, the United Nations, with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the United States Capitol West Lawn. He enjoys playing many musical genres including classical, folk, rock, world music, and contemporary.

M.A. from New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

B.M. in Cello Performance from Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

Performer’s Certificate from Northwestern University Bienen School of Music