Michelle Horsley
  • Bio
  • Media / Covid Info
  • Resume
  • Compositions
  • Repertoire
  • Photos
​EMPLOYMENT
Director of Music Ministries, Trinity Episcopal Church (Hartford, CT)  .......................................................................................................................................................... 2020-present
Music Director, The Choir School of Hartford  .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2020-present
​Organ/Piano Teacher, Private Studio ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2019-present
Associate Music Director, West Hartford Summer Arts Festival ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2019-2022
Director of Music, South Church (New Britain, CT) ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2018-2020
     - full-time organist/choirmaster, director of a semi professional 25-voice adult choir
     - oversee 6 professional section leaders 
     - film / produce professional-quality 30-80mins worship video each week (since March, 2020)
            - videography, audio engineering, production, etc. for regular virtual choir projects, music videos, and worship service components
     - create & moderate the church's YouTube channel  and social media presence
     - maintain instruments, curate music library, hire musicians, coordinate large music events
      - offer additional educational programming (drumming workshops for youth, rhythm sessions for adults, mini music lectures for Bible Study)
Artistic Director, The Music Series at South Church ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2018-2020
     - guide programming, coordinate with visiting artists
     - serve on Music Series Steering Committee

Director of Music, St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Avon, CT) ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2017-2018
      - directed adult choir & formed music ensembles for children
      - wrote and directed large music events (Christmas pageant, Reformation Celebration, etc.)

Organist, Seattle First Baptist Church (Seattle, WA) ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2014-2017
      - provided organ and piano music for all worship services, rehearsals, and additional events; 
helped lead large music ministry (60-voice choir, regular large-scale music                        events with hired orchestras)
      - directed all instrumental, vocal, small ensemble music
      - worked collaboratively with pastoral team to choose all hymns and special music for worship services
      - developed new programming (New Year's Cabaret, music performance classes, special musical offering on the seven last words of Christ, Solstice Contemplation,          
             Thanksgiving organ concert)
      - composed and premiered 30+ original compositions
      - led summer educational series on musicianship for the congregation & wider community

Associate Director, Diverse Harmony (Seattle, WA) ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2015-2017
     - accompanist/composer-in-residence/assistant conductor for 50-voice LGBTQIA-straight youth alliance choir
     - coordinated music for fundraisers, helped guide programming ideas, co-led trip to GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses) - Denver, 2016
     - extensive and individual work with ethnically and socially diverse youth

Director of Music, St. John's Lutheran Church of Highland (Pittsburgh, PA) ....................................................................................................................................................... 2013-2014
     - directed 30-voice adult choir and co-directed children's ensemble
     - provided organ, piano, and choral music for all traditional worship services
     - curated and expanded choral library 
     - directed large-scale Easter cantata, special Advent music programming, Lenten organ concerts, 

Director of Music Ministry, Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek (Plum, PA) .......................................................................................................................................................2012-2013
     - led music for blended (traditional & contemporary) worship service
     - founded a weekly children's music ensemble
     - directed 70-person cast Passion cantata (composer and transcribed parts for 10-member pit orchestra)

Chapel Coordinator/Organist, Stetson University, DeLand FL .............................................................................................................................................................................. 2008-2012
Assistant Organist, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Fuencisla, Segovia, Spain ................................................................................................................................................................ 2009
Organist, Grace Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg FL ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 2007-2008
Pit Musician/Arranger, Shorecrest Preparatory School's Production of 42nd Street ..................................................................................................................................................... 2007
Organist, Allendale United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg FL .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2005-2006
Assistant Organist, Hope Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg FL ............................................................................................................................................................................... 2004-2005
Substitute Organist, Tampa Bay and DeLand Area .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2004-2008 

EDUCATION
Master of Music - Sacred Music, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA - Cumulative GPA: 3.9/4.0 ............................................................................................................... 2012-2014
Principal Instructor: Ann Labounsky, organ and sacred music
Thesis: The Significance of Liturgical Symbolism in the Modern Chorale Preludes of Vincent Persichetti 
Graduate Assistant, Duquesne University Organ Department, Pittsburgh PA ...................................................................................................................................................... 2012-2014
Bachelor of Music - Organ Performance, Stetson University - DeLand, Florida - Cumulative GPA: 3.89/4.0 .............................................................................................. 2008-2012
Principal Instructor: Boyd Jones, organ and harpsichord
Associate of Arts - Saint Petersburg College - St. Petersburg, Florida ................................................................................................................................................................. 2005-2008
(degree completed by dual-enrollment while in high school)
Principal Instructor: Vernon Taranto, choral studies


PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Guild of Organists, Hartford Chapter (Dean, as of 2020) .................................................................................................................................................................. 2017-present
Jolidon Fund Sub-Committee ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2017-present
American Choral Directors Association ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2008-present
American Guild of Organists, Seattle/Tacoma Chapter (board-member for 2016-2017) .................................................................................................................................... 2014-2017
American Guild of Organists, Pittsburgh & Duquesne University Chapters .......................................................................................................................................................... 2012-2014
Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................2012-2014
Chant Schola Gregoriana (under the director of Sra. Marie Agatha Ozah, Ph.d, HHCJ) ...................................................................................................................................... 2012-2014

ADDITIONAL SKILLS
Audio/Video Production 
     experienced with Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro X
     additional work in Audacity and Ableton Live
Fluent in Spanish 
     lived in Spain for ten months from 2004-2005, four months in 2007, and three months in 2010 
     lived in Mexico for three months from 2006-2007
Conversational in German 
     lived in Germany for five months in 2011
Jazz Pianist 
     The Offbeats, Stetson University, DeLand FL 
     PH Big Band, Paedagogische Hochschule, Freiburg Germany
Private Instructor (Organ/Piano) 
Experienced in MS Suite (Word, Powerpoint, spreadsheets, etc) and website design
Web Hosting by FatCow