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 the core principles of a love of music, learning by ear, and developing a strong technical foundation through repertoire, exercises and drills that develop student's reflexes and coordination. His teaching style is enthusiastic and positive, and in the lesson he is attentive to each student’s level and 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 its 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 in many musical genres including classical, folk, rock, world music, and contemporary.

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

Performer’s Certificate - Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

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