Michael David Hill Violist
P h i l o s o p h y
With attention to ear training and technique from the very beginning, Michael's students hold principal positions in school orchestras, performing arts schools, youth orchestras, and all- county/state orchestras. Several have continued to BM and MM degrees in music.
Upholding Dr. Suzuki's belief that Every Child Can, Michael seeks to find a way for every student of every age to find joy in making music and in their personal efforts and goals. Lessons and coaching are fun and interactive, challenging students to think critically and apply their knowledge in solving problems and developing new skills.
In performing and teaching Michael seeks to share music with others through education and efforts making classical music more accessible to the public.
E d u c a t i o n
E x p e r i e n c e
Michael has performed as an orchestral and chamber musician at the Aspen Musical Festival and School and as principal violist with the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. Michael is in demand on both modern and Baroque instruments, with much knowledge gained from Nico Fortin, founding member of Bourbon Baroque, and has been accepted to Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra's winter institute and the Berwick Academy at the Oregon Bach Festival. He is currently a member of the viola section in the Chattanooga Symphony & opera, the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and principal violist for the Lexington Chamber Orchestra and regularly performs as a guest musician for Louisville Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic, Lexington Philharmonic, and other orchestras near and far.
He teaches a private studio of enthusiastic violinists and violists of all ages, and visits local schools regularly for sectionals, chamber music coaching, and performances and demonstrations. Michael has been a guest for masterclasses for college and pre-college students in Louisville and surrounding areas as well as a guest judge for various youth competitions. He has collaborated on recitals and recording projects with several performers and composers in the area. To inquire about lessons go HERE
In his spare time Michael enjoys exploring the city of Louisville and spending time at home trying new vegan-friendly recipes and gardening with the help of his cat Poppy.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Michael began his viola studies at the age of seventeen and continued his education with Masao Kawasaki and Dr. Catharine Carroll earning a Bachelor of Music at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Moving to Louisville, Michael completed a Master of Music at the University of Louisville’s School of Music with Dr. Chien-Ju Liao and Dr. Yen-Ting Wu. He was a member of the Graduate String Quartet and also served as principal viola and teaching assistant to the viola studio throughout the program. He served as principal viola for the KMEA Intercollegiate All-State Orchestra, and has appeared as a guest soloist for KMEA.
Continuing Suzuki teacher training, Michael has completed Violin Books 1-10 through the University of Louisville through long-term form teacher training under Dr. Timothy Durbin, and is working his way through the viola courses each summer with William Preucil, Sr. He teaches through the Louisville Academy of Music and is often a guest for college and pre-college masterclasses and competitions in Louisville and surrounding areas. Michael has served as the coordinator for the Weisberg Program, providing violin, viola, and cello instruments, lessons, and group classes influence by the Suzuki Method in local elementary schools, the director of the Louisville Suzuki String Institute and the Suzuki Studies Program at the University of Louisville. He currently teaches violin, viola, and group classes to his private studio of violinists and violists.
Recently Michael has taught viola and chamber music at the University of Louisville as a teaching assistant to the viola studio and in the Graduate String Quartet. He completed a Master of Music in String Pedagogy in 2016, and continues to teach violin, viola, Suzuki group classes, and chamber music in and around Louisville. In addition to applied viola lessons, Michael has taught Viola Literature courses for the undergraduate and graduate violists at the University of Louisville, and applied violin lessons at Western Kentucky University.
Michael was invited to join the Sarajevo Philharmonic (BiH) for a one year assistantship in 2016-2017, unfortunately it was just slightly too far from home. Nearer performance opportunities have included Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra's winter institute 2019 and the Berwick Academy Orchestra as part of the Oregon Bach Festival 2022 and 2023.
