Mr. Michael D. Hill

Violist Michael Hill is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He began his education with Masao Kawasaki and Dr. Catharine Carroll earning a Bachelor of Music at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Moving to Louisville, Michael completed a Master of Music at the University of Louisville’s School of Music with Dr. Chien-Ju Liao. He was a member of the Graduate String Quartet and also served as principal viola and teaching assistant to the viola studio throughout the program. He served as principal viola for the KMEA Intercollegiate All-State Orchestra and has appeared as a guest soloist for KMEA. He completed a Master of Music in string pedagogy in 2016, Michael works frequently with viola students and chamber music ensembles at the University of Louisville, Western Middle School for the Arts, and the Youth Performing Arts High School.

Michael has performed as an orchestral and chamber musician at the Aspen Musical Festival and School and as principal violist with the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. He collaborates on chamber music performances, Broadway musicals, recordings, and new works by local composers. He has performed with several orchestras in Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and on Baroque viola with Bourbon Baroque, and further study through work with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Oregon Bach Festival Berwick Academy, and Oberlin Conservatory’s Baroque Performance Institute. He will be performing with the Berwick Academy at the Oregon Bach Festival, 2022. He is currently a member of the viola section in Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Paducah Symphony Orchestra and principal viola of the Lexington Chamber Orchestra.

Continuing Suzuki teacher training, Michael has completed Violin Books 1-10 through the University of Louisville through long-term form teacher training under Dr. Timothy Durbin and is working his way through the viola courses each summer under William Preucil, Sr. He teaches through the Louisville Academy of Music and is often a guest for college and pre-college masterclasses and competitions in Louisville and surrounding areas. He has served as director for the Louisville Suzuki Institute and Suzuki Studies Program. He has taught applied viola lessons and graduate and undergraduate Viola Literature at the University of Louisville and applied violin lessons at Western Kentucky University and Georgetown College.

With attention to ear training and technique from the very beginning, Michael’s students hold principal positions in school orchestras, performing arts schools, youth orchestras, and all- county/state orchestras. Several have continued to BM and MM degrees in music.

Upholding Dr. Suzuki’s belief that Every Child Can, Michael seeks to find a way for every student of every age to find joy in making music and in their personal efforts and goals. Lessons and coaching are fun and interactive, challenging students to think critically and apply their knowledge in solving problems and developing new skills.

In performing and teaching Michael seeks to share music with others through education and efforts making classical music more accessible to the public. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the city of Louisville and spending time at home trying new vegan-friendly recipes and gardening with the help of his cat Poppy.