Michael Wartofsky

Michael Wartofsky is a Professor in the Songwriting Department at Berklee College of Music, where he established an undergraduate minor in musical theater writing (2015) and cofounded the annual Curtain Up student songwriting contest. His creative work includes the 2019 album All the Possibilities: Broadway Sings Wartofsky, featuring 12 Broadway artists performing his original songs, such as Kate Baldwin, Darius de Haas, and Alysha Umphress. Recent projects include the upcoming musical LATE (2022), addressing school shootings.

• New York University (MFA, 1997)
• New England Conservatory of Music (MM, 1994)
• Harvard University (BA, 1991)

His research and practice focus on musical theater writing, songwriting pedagogy, and lyrical storytelling, blending emotional depth with humor and social critique. The 2019 album showcases themes of loss, relationships, and humanity across diverse styles from cabaret to 1970s adult contemporary.

Wartofsky’s accolades include the Distinguished Faculty Award (2018) and finalist status in the Davenport Musical Theater Songwriting Contest (2014). His compositions have been performed at the New York Musical Theatre Festival and North Shore Music Theatre, with collaborations spanning Broadway, Boston, and international stages.