Biography
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Described as “scintillating” and “tremendously virtuosic” (The Straits Times, Singapore), Michael Hey has established himself as a reputable concert organist in the U.S. and abroad. Hey performs solo and collaboratively, from organ concertos with top American orchestras to organ performances in historic cathedrals and churches.
Michael has performed solo recitals and lectured for several American Guild of Organists conventions and conferences. Upcoming recitals include the closing concert of the 2025 Organ Historical Society National Convention and a performance in France. In 2017, he won first prize in the First Shanghai Conservatory of Music International Organ Competition, held at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Theater. That same year, he released his premiere solo CD recording Michael T. C. Hey plays the Great Organ of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York on the JAV recording label. In 2016, he was recognized as one of the top “20 Under 30” organists by The Diapason magazine and was a finalist in the Longwood Gardens Organ Competition.
Michael has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony on several occasions. In 2014, he was the featured organ soloist for the New York City Ballet’s newly commissioned work Acheron. Set to the music of Francis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto, his performance at its premiere was “vividly played” (The New York Times, 2014). He has performed at notable venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Kimmel Center, the Kennedy Center, the Esplanade (Singapore), and Overture Hall (Madison).
Not exclusively a solo organist, Michael enjoys a varied career that includes collaborations with other musicians, solo piano recitals, improvising, and transcribing works. He performs works and arrangements for violin and organ with violinist Christiana Liberis in the Hey-Liberis duo and is a proponent of new works for the organ, premiering numerous compositions.
Since 2023, Michael has served as Director of Music and Organist of the historic Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, the oldest church congregation in New York State, founded in 1628. He also serves as Assistant Music Director at Park Avenue Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Prior to his appointment at Marble Collegiate Church, Michael served at two other distinguished Fifth Avenue congregations. As Associate Director of Music and Organist at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (2015–2023), he performed for the first U.S. visit of Pope Francis and was heard by millions through services, broadcasts, and online platforms. Earlier, from 2010–2015, he was Assistant Organist at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Michael graduated from the accelerated five-year degree program at The Juilliard School, earning both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in organ performance under Paul Jacobs.