Michael Denison has two music degrees, a Master of Music from USC and Bachelor of Music from California State, Fullerton, both in piano performance. He studied with several notable teachers, including Stewart Gordon, Earle Voorhies, and Malcolm Hamilton.

He is the accompanist for the Laguna Beach Chorale and Board President of the Chorale. He has performed Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto for the AIDS Life Cycle fundraiser and currently is working on the 3rd concerto. He also has performed Beethoven's Choral Fantasy at Mount San Antonio College’s Steinway dedication concert.

Michael has arranged and composed several works, including "Spanish Suite" for piano and organ, "Gypsy Rag" for violin and piano and is currently composing a piano concerto. Recently, he appeared as the ‘piano player’ on an episode of the television show, Monk.

DEGREES

Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California, 2000.  Teachers: Dr. Stewart Gordon, Dr. Malcolm Hamilton, Dr. James Hopkins.

Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from California State University, Fullerton, 1995.   Teachers:  Mr. Earle Voorhies, Dr. Lucinda Carver, Ms. Sara Banta, Mrs. May Hsieh.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Private Piano Instructor
• Accompanist for: Laguna Beach Chorale; String and vocal studios in lessons, master classes, performances, competitions, and Certificate of Merit students
• Coached by Dr. Donald McInnes, Dr. Eudice Shapiro, Mary Beth Haag;
• Past
• Accompanist Mt. San Antonio College, 1995-2000
• Accompanist St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1993-2000
• Music Lib Music Librarian Asst. CSUF, 1990-1993

PERFORMANCES

• AIDS Life Cycle 2005 benefit concert: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2
• Orchestra appearances:  Mt. SAC’s Steinway dedication concert, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasie conducted by Gary Toops and twice before conducted by Daniel Resch; Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals; Works by Mozart and J.C. Bach
• Rehearsal Accompanist for Laguna Beach Chorale appearances in Carnegie Hall: Faure Requiem conducted by Stephanie Henry; Mozart Solemn Vespers conducted by Simon Carrington; Mozart Requiem conducted by John Rutter
• Accompanist/Soloist:  Ensemble Pacifica, Stop-Gap Showcase 2003 at Orange County Performing Arts Center, Televised Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Cal State Northridge, Recitals series Laguna Beach and Mt. SAC, England Choral Tour at Stourbridge, Oundle, and Kettering

RELATED SKILLS

• Arrangements of works by Bach, Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev

• Original compositions: Spanish Suite for piano/organ, cadenza for Liszt work
• Preparing for publication, J.S. Bach duets for piano and organ
• Knowledge of Sibelius® music software
• Adjudicator for the Episcopal Chorale Scholarship, Artistic Director for Ensemble Pacifica, President; Board of Directors for the Laguna Beach Chorale