Project Description
MICHAEL X
Michael X. is a Performer, Vocal Coach, and Music Director who graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance – where he spent a lot of his time music directing and vocal coaching.
As a performer, a few of his favorite roles have been Dick in High Fidelity (Columbia College Chicago), Will I? Soloist/Restaurant Man in RENT (Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre), and the Ensemble in South Pacific (Des Moines Playhouse). As a solo performer, he has sung on several stages including the Des Moines Civic Center, Kum & Go Theatre, and the Den Theatre (Chicago).
As a music director, he’s worked the finest music directors in Chicago, along with his own work. He has worked with Jermaine Hill on Caroline, or Change and Xanadu (and served as conductor) & Andra Velis Simon on Little Shop of Horrors, all while at Columbia College Chicago. His most notable work was music directing and conducting The Wild Party (Andrew Lippa), workshop performance of Abduction: The Musical (T.J. Pieffer, Brad Kemp, and Becki Toth), and was vocal supervisor to several other productions and cabarets.
When it comes to teaching, he’s no stranger to a wide genre of music styles – ranging from Musical Theatre to Pop/Rock, and R&B. He loves finding new ways to reinvent songs but can also provide analytical views in music for auditions and performances. Many of his students have gone off to programs in music, theatre, and dance to many universes across the nation. He has been played many roles teaching and creating curriculum for multiple non-profits and has coached in several public schools.