LGCSF STAFF
Michael Reilly, Artistic & Music Director
Michael Reilly is thrilled to be joining Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco as their new artistic director. Michael is a conductor, singer, composer, and educator living in the Bay Area. He believes that music is a universal gift possessed by all and his mission is creating community through the ritual of music making. He is currently on the music faculties of Solano Community College (Voice and Music Theory) and San Francisco Boys Chorus (Musicianship), as well as the Director of Music at Community Presbyterian Church and Artistic Director for Melody Choral Singers in Vallejo.
Previously, Michael served as Associate Artistic Director for the Bennie L. Williams Spiritual Voices, a 45-voice multi-ethnic mixed choir, which celebrates the varied traditions of spirituals and provides an opportunity for people to connect personally with spirituals through performance. A highlight of his time with the choir was “My Soul is a River,” the choir’s tribute concert to Dr. Vincent Harding with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves. As a performer, Michael has appeared on stage and screen. As a musical theater actor, he has been called a “stand out performer” (Chicago Tribune), and “hilarious and clarion-voiced” (Chicago Gay Times). As a choral artist, he sang with the critically acclaimed Donald Brinegar Singers for several seasons and was a member of the Terabithia Choir on the soundtrack for the movie Bridge to Terabithia. In 2013, YouthPLAYS published his musical adaptation (Diane Grant book/lyrics) of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows, which premiered at Theatre Palisades in 2010. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály emphasis from Holy Names University.
Previously, Michael served as Associate Artistic Director for the Bennie L. Williams Spiritual Voices, a 45-voice multi-ethnic mixed choir, which celebrates the varied traditions of spirituals and provides an opportunity for people to connect personally with spirituals through performance. A highlight of his time with the choir was “My Soul is a River,” the choir’s tribute concert to Dr. Vincent Harding with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves. As a performer, Michael has appeared on stage and screen. As a musical theater actor, he has been called a “stand out performer” (Chicago Tribune), and “hilarious and clarion-voiced” (Chicago Gay Times). As a choral artist, he sang with the critically acclaimed Donald Brinegar Singers for several seasons and was a member of the Terabithia Choir on the soundtrack for the movie Bridge to Terabithia. In 2013, YouthPLAYS published his musical adaptation (Diane Grant book/lyrics) of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows, which premiered at Theatre Palisades in 2010. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master of Music in Music Education with Kodály emphasis from Holy Names University.