Michael grew up in Los Angeles where he studied cello with Nancy Yamagata at the Colburn School.  He attended Amherst College and was an active member of the Amherst Symphony and Amherst Jazz Band.  He has been a member of the Pan American Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC, the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra in New York, and the Longwood Symphony in Boston.  Michael joined the Santa Monica Symphony in 2007.  He is passionate about both music and social justice.  He currently works at Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization providing employment services to individuals experiencing homelessness and those impacted by the criminal justice system.