As far back as I can remember I've always loved music. It is an important part of my personality. I guess I'm lucky that even though my parents took up professions in other fields, their respect for music has always been very deep. Musical needs in many cases took the place of normal frivolties. Practicing was as much a part of my daily routine as sports, school studies, and being with friends.
One of my favorite pastimes is having fun. I love to laugh or just be a kid. Being active keeps me happy, whether it's playing with my pets or rollerblading with a friend.
On the other hand, I love the sense of accomplishment which comes from bringing a project to fruition. It can be recording a product, helping a student prepare so that the performance under pressure goes well, or helping to plan the music for an event. Because of my organizational skills I'm able to "wear a lot of hats".
I love playing music and being able to share it with people. There is nothing more fulfilling than reaching a person's inner being through a performance of their favorite tune or beautiful music they are hearing for the first time. My recording projects were good souvenirs for the guests at the Riverview Restaurant where I performed nightly from 1982-2000, and are still available at my current playing engagements. Making the recordings provides me with a creative outlet. Since a recording in many respects is a "mirror" for the musician; I feel my skills are sharpened with each project.
One of my favorite ways to share music with people is through teaching. My first long term student was in the early 70's. Over the years I've taught at several schools including the preparatory department at the College/Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, Wyoming Fine Arts Center, and the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Presently I'm on the faculty at Northern Kentucky University where I've been since 1987.
After the Plattner family gave a concert grand in memory of their son Denny Plattner to the school in 1993, an outreach program seemed like the right way to introduce the harp to people who might not ever encounter one. By bringing my mini harps to the public through "Harp Class with Michelle", I give them the chance to "have at it". Watching their eyes light up when they realize they have their own 19-string harp for a little while is rewarding.
As much as I love the first-timers, I must admit that helping a dedicated student to fulfill a dream by guiding them down the road to the big goal gives me a special thrill. As long as the student is able to find satisfaction in playing the harp, my goal has been achieved. Their satisfaction comes from being able to make something happen on the instrument on command, provided they have built the foundation on solid practice. Whether the student is learning a tune for personal satisfaction or for public performance, my fulfillment comes from helping them move in the direction of their choosing.
In my "spare time" I run A Class Act music agency. The agency has been helping the people planning events to get good quality musicians since 1989. It's wonderful to be able to bring together the skills of the musicians with the needs of the occassion. Making the perfect match between music and event is very gratifying.

My personal musical history
My father was my first music teacher with piano lessons, although like many little girls I also took dancing lessons. When my parents decided it was time for a "real" teacher, I chose harp. I have to give them credit for letting me have the instrument of my choice and not steering me in another direction just because it was easy to carry! My first public performance on the harp was with my teacher on the school's "closed circuit" television as they called it in the 1960's. I'd only been playing for a few months, but the featured person was my teacher, Emily Oppenheimer. The program was part of a series called "Meet the Instruments".
The magic of those early times has continued to light my career. Many wonderful opportunities have come my way. My adolescent years were spent going to music camps and playing in orchestras of all the schools in the neighboring communities. When I graduated college my business degree was awarded on the same day as my music degree.
After a taste of the music industry in the real world while touring with the harp duo Windsong, I decided to get an advanced degree in Music eventually earning a Master of Music degree in Harp Performance.
Though I learned a lot in school, when I began my full-time playing at the Riverview it became apparent my "real world" education was lacking. After several attempts I found a wonderful musician with a method of teaching comtemporary music. My ability to play so many styles of music with such ease comes from the years of study after school.
Music speaks to our emotions, truly transcending language. It can relieve a tormented soul by releasing stress or pacify it by comforting. Many a warm fuzzy feeling can be attibuted to music. The listener can enjoy the music or words to a song because of a special personal meaning - the musician enjoys the music with the same inner verve. And so the communication begins. Heart to heart.