Christopher Michel
Christopher Michel, MM
Associate Professor of Voice
GPAC, 220A | 936.294.1379 | cmichel@shsu.edu
Division | Voice
Lyric baritone Christopher Michel is a nationally sought-after pedagogue and performer whose studio is recognized as one of the most successful in the region. As Associate Professor of Voice at Sam Houston State University, Michel is known for his transformative teaching, artistic leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His reach extends internationally through his work with the Accademia Vocale Lorenzo Malfatti in Lucca, Italy, and nationally as a faculty member of the prestigious Houston Grand Opera High School Voice Studio, where he mentors the next generation of operatic talent.
Professor Michel’s students consistently rise to the top of the field. In the past decade alone, over 40 students from his studio have advanced to finalist rounds at the TEXOMA Regional NATS Competition—a testament to his rigorous and inspiring instruction. In 2014, two of his students were selected to perform at the National Opera Association Aria Competition in New York City. His alumni have been accepted into elite graduate programs including the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Rice University, Manhattan School of Music, Northwestern University, Pepperdine University, University of Tennessee, University of Houston, University of Alabama, and Baylor University. Professionally, they have graced the stages of Houston Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera in the Heights, Lone Star Lyric Opera, and Syracuse Opera, among others.
As a performer, Michel brings both versatility and depth to a broad range of repertoire, from opera and oratorio to concert and art song. He has appeared in leading roles across the country, including Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Danilo and Count Cascada in The Merry Widow, and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers. Notable concert engagements include Mozart’s Requiem with Mercury Baroque Orchestra, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Haydn’s The Creation and Lord Nelson Mass. His recent solo tour of Italy with the Cypress Creek Chorale culminated in an audience with Pope Francis, marking a personal and professional high point.
A passionate advocate for voice education and professional development, Michel has held multiple leadership roles within the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), including TEXOMA Region Auditions Chair, Vice President of Workshops, Secretary, and President of the Greater Houston Chapter. He currently serves as Chair of the Dominick Argento Vocal Competition through the National Opera Association, where he oversees one of the country’s most prominent competitive platforms for emerging vocalists. His expertise is frequently called upon for adjudication and masterclasses across the U.S., and his students regularly receive top honors at district and regional competitions.
Prior to his appointment at SHSU, Michel served as Director of Opera Theatre at the University of Alabama, where he received a significant grant from the Alabama Council on the Arts to support innovative operatic programming. While pursuing his doctorate at Florida State University, he was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Associate Award, underscoring his excellence as both a scholar and educator.
Michel holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Baylor University. His artistic development has been guided by some of the most respected vocal pedagogues in the country, including Barbara Honn, Barbara Clark, Joyce Farwell, Stanford Olsen, Roy Delp, Jack Coldiron, Robin Rice, and Karen Peeler.