Michael Blackburn

Michael Blackburn is a Visiting Professor and Assistant Director of Choral Activities at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. He concurrently serves as the Collegium Ensemble Director at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM). Holding a BA from Saint Mary’s College and an MA in Conducting from UC Santa Cruz, his career spans performance, education, and artistic direction.

• Bachelor of Arts, Saint Mary’s College
• Master’s in Conducting, UC Santa Cruz

His research and professional interests focus on choral conducting, opera production, and musical theater. Notable engagements include conducting the world premiere of The Artificial Woman, the UCSC Opera Program’s My Head is Full of Colors, and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. A skilled pianist, he emphasizes piano music of Rachmaninoff and Chopin, alongside vocal technique for instrumentalists.

No scientific awards or grants are explicitly mentioned in the provided materials. His teaching and artistic contributions emphasize ensemble direction and interdisciplinary music education.