Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
As an artist, I make music, which means I work in the medium of sound, the way other artists might work in oils or clay. My main passion, and the thing I am fortunate to do the most, is conducting. I also play the French horn, which I continue to perform on, but it’s conducting that energizes me like nothing else.  As a well-rounded musician, I also do a lot of teaching.  I have taught every level from elementary to college, including in Burbank, as well as private lessons and coaching.

Around here, I like to say that I am Burbank’s “resident conductor” because I am lucky to conduct both of the city’s musical ensembles!  I began my career in Burbank about 10 years ago with the Burbank Philharmonic, our city’s own fully-professional union orchestra, a group that has roots in the community going back 100+ years. We’re now the only professional orchestra in the San Fernando Valley, something we are very proud of. More recently, I started conducting the Burbank Community Band, a very different kind of ensemble.  This is a group of volunteer musicians who gather on Friday mornings to practice for the love of music and they are a wonderful group of people.  The band proudly plays for the city’s Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day ceremonies in the park, as well as putting on three concerts of their own annually.  

How did you first become interested in music?
I first became interested in music at home.  My mom played piano and my dad played the guitar, so we always had music in the house and I was exposed to it from an early age. I actually started with guitar lessons in elementary school, but soon graduated to band in Jr. High and the rest is history.  I took up French horn in the 6th grade and never looked back!  As far as conducting, I got hooked on that very early as well.  I was fortunate that as a freshman, my high school band director gave me a chance to conduct a Sousa march, and by my senior year, I was teaching large multi-movement band works and conducting them in concert.  So I knew in high school that this is what I wanted to do!

How does music enrich a community, and what are some ways people can engage with music in Burbank? 
I think music enriches a community by bringing people together to share something beautiful and ephemeral.  Each concert is unique and since music takes place in time, it is something that is shared and then it’s gone, never to be repeated in exactly the same way.  The collective energy of the musicians and the audience forms a very special connection that I think makes people feel a part of something larger than themselves, which is a universal feeling.  – In Burbank, there are many ways to engage with music, from top-notch student performances at the local schools, to outdoor summer concerts, to musicals in local theaters, and certainly by attending live performances by groups such as the Community Band and the Philharmonic, both of which are proud to offer our shows free of charge to the entire community. Whether you are hearing amateur musicians who play from the heart, or seasoned pros who work in the recording studios, where else can you hear such incredible music for free?!?  I encourage everyone to come out and find the music that moves you and attend in person – there’s something about experiencing music live that far surpasses any recording!

There are upcoming events for both the Band and the Philharmonic that I encourage folks to take advantage of and experience the music for themselves.  The Burbank Philharmonic’s “March Matinee” concert takes place at Burbank High School on March 22nd at 3:00 pm, and the Community Band’s annual Spring concert will be held at Dolores Huerta Middle School on April 11 at 2:00 pm.  Everyone is invited and admission for both performances is free!

If you could share with our community one thing about music and/or your creative process, what would it be?
I think I would say to focus on the experience of a live musical performance, in any style or genre, and the feelings it generates in you as a listener and as a participant in creating the energy in the room.  Passion is more important than perfection because it’s what moves you and stirs your soul. I’ve had some of my greatest ideas, epiphanies and experiences at live concerts and that’s what is important about art in general and live music in particular – it has the power to move you, change you and leave you feeling something magical that you never experienced before.

To find out more about Michael and his work, visit his website here or visit the Burbank Philharmonic and Burbank Community Band websites.