Our Music Director
Michelle Oesterle has been immersed in the world of music her entire life having been the daughter of an orchestral manager and step-daughter of opera diva Eleanor Steber. Performing from the age of four, her early music education was in church music as a member of a 800-voice church music program. This experience proved to be the foundation for her life-long passion for music as well as her desire to present music from a deeply spiritual perspective.
Ms. Oesterle served as the founder and director of The Ensemble, a twenty-eight voice choir, at The Federated Church, a 1700-member church in Ohio for twelve years. The Ensemble recorded two CDs and presented many original musicals including chamber orchestra. First in Michigan and later in Ohio, she was a public music educator for thousands of children. In addition, she performed as an oratorio soloist and sang as a member of The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus. Subsequent to her move to New York City, Michelle directed The Marble Collegiate Church Children’s Choir and The Festival of Voices adult choir. Additionally, she has performed in numerous ensembles and choruses, including performing for Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday celebration, as well as with Kristen Chenoweth at The Metropolitan Opera House, Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone at the United Nations and at Radio City Music Hall, Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown at Lincoln Center Jazz, The Mark Morris Dancers at BAM, The New York City Ballet with Peter Martins, and numerous other performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Most recently, she premiered works of several contemporary composers including “Voices of Power and Protest” by Thea Musgrave, choreographed by Dorothy Danner, as a member of a 16-voice ensemble, and the U.S. premier of Joby Talbot’s “Path of Miracles” at Symphony Space.
She has performed under the baton of some of the world’s leading conductors, including Robert Shaw at Carnegie Hall and Severance Hall, Sir Simon Rattle at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, England, Andrew Hickox at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff, Wales, Robert Porco, Pierre Boulez, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Franz Welser-Most, Libor Pesek, Sir Andrew Davis, Peter Schreier and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Recordings include a Grammy Award nomination for Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor and a Grammy Award for Berlioz Tristia, Pierre Boulez, Conductor.
Michelle received her Bachelor of Music degree in Education and Performance and has continued extensive graduate coursework and private study with some the world’s most highly-respected conductors. She is grateful to David Jones for sharing his vast knowledge of vocal pedagogy, Judith Clurman for her support and leadership, and to her conducting mentor, Dr. C. M. Shearer, for his continued inspiration and encouragement.
Above all, Michelle is grateful for this opportunity to serve God through sharing the gift of music. |
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