Equally at home in the orchestral, choral and operatic repertoire,  Michael has conducted extensively throughout New Zealand and, since relocating to London in early 2014, at The Royal Opera House, assisting Alexander Joel, Dan Ettinger, Placido Domingo, Oleg Caetani and Marc Minkowski. He has also conducted an enthusiastically received concert with the Lakeland Sinfonia and soloist Pascal Rogé. 

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He has conducted many of the established orchestras and companies in New Zealand - Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Sinfonia, St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, Opera Otago, the City of Dunedin Choir, NZSO National Youth Orchestra and, prior to relocating to London, principals and members of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and NZ String Quartet in a critically acclaimed performance of Mahler’s 4th Symphony.

Michael was Music and Development Officer, Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor at Canterbury Opera.  During his tenure he conducted Lakmé , Rusalka, Comte Ory, La traviata and the world premiere of Jonathan Besser’s “work in progress”, commissioned by Canterbury Opera.  In August 2006 he conducted a highly successful production of Die Fledermaus for Opera Hawke’s Bay.

Michael has worked on the music staff of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as duty conductor on productions of Tosca, La Bohème, La Traviata and, Carmen.  He also assisted with the music preparation and children’s chorus for La Bohème and Carmen.