Michael Genese
Composer | Educator | Multi-Instrumentalist
MICHAEL GENESE [dʒə-nis] (he/they) is a composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist.
Genese's work asks how sonic, artistic, and educational mediums can reveal new understandings of the self, and how the presence of intersectionality in our thinking can be fostered through our interactions with music. They hold degrees in Music Education, Vocal Performance, and Music Composition, having studied with Timo Andres, Han Lash, and Missy Mazzoli.
Genese is an Artist Ambassador with the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), a co-producer for The Choral Commons, and founding member of internationally acclaimed social justice artist's collective, VOICES 21C. They teach private violin, piano, and voice lessons in New York City.
Genese's broad-reaching work, distinctly as an educator and multimedia artist, is rooted in frameworks of abolition and restorative justice. They are the principal architect of New Bedford Symphony’s K-12 Music Keyword Equity Database, which launched in early 2024. They are also presenting a Soundwalk in partnership with NYCLU, based in locations where the New York City police department's Strategic Response Group (SRG) brutalized protestors in 2020-2021. The soundwalk, titled "SRG Soundwalk," aims to raise public consciousness not only about police (mis)conduct prevalent in New York City, but what can be done within the scope of our immediate power to eradicate it.
Genese echoes the sentiment that the arts and humanities can be invaluable tools for affecting our states of consciousness and ignorance as art-makers and listeners, to further win the world we need.
SRG Soundwalk
A series of seven sound pieces, each assigned to a specific location where the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) brutalized protestors in 2020 and 2021.
Premiere: FERNNE, IN WATER
Winner of the 2020 Bohuslav Martinů Prize, FERNNE, IN WATER received its premiere on December 12, 2021 by Mannes Orchestra at Tishman Auditorium in New York City, conducted by Kelly Lam.
Michael Genese selected for the NYSCA/NYFA 2022 Artist’s Fellowship in Music and Sound
Bird Mansion for String Quartet and Electronics recently published by Black Dot Press, UK
Catalogue of Works
Audio / Video Work
