Meet Michael
My journey has taken me to both the most beautiful summits and the deepest, darkest of valleys.
Yet people have told me time and again that my music speaks to them.
What transition can we sing about? What joy? What celebration? What sorrow? Can our music subvert the given narrative? Can our song persevere? Can we triumph?
Full Biography
Michael Bussewitz-Quarm is an award-winning composer whose choral music engages with pressing social and environmental issues, fostering understanding and empathy through art. Her work is shaped by a deep belief in the power of resilience and a unique personal journey, allowing her to create music that gives voice to marginalized communities.
Winner of The American Prize in Choral Composition in 2021, Bussewitz-Quarm's works are performed by leading professional and educational choral ensembles across North America and internationally in places like the UK, Germany, and the Middle East. Notable performances include her Carnegie Hall debut of "Where We Find Ourselves," the west coast premiere of "The Unarmed Child" by Eugene Concert Choir and Orchestra, and "I'll Fly Away" at the International Society of Contemporary Music's New Music Days in Vancouver. Her compositions have also been featured on Public Radio East, KMUZ, and WCPE.
Her music is published through Listen Afresh Publishing, Peermusic Classical, and Hal Leonard. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Music degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. As a member of ASCAP, she is currently working on several major projects, including "Peacebomb," a collaboration with lyricist Anthony Silvestri, "Buufis," a choral consortium work inspired by Ben Rawlence's "City of Thorns," and "US," a new work for Sing Democracy 250. She is also currently seeking consortium partners for two upcoming projects: "Refugee Mass," a work exploring the crisis of global migration and human displacement, planned for 2027, and "The Treeline," a work for choir and orchestra addressing the impact of climate change on societies in the Arctic Circle, slated for 2028.
View Michael’s Headshots
Bookings:
To book, contact Michael through email at listenafresh@gmail.com or through Michael’s Contact Page.
