Michael C. Haigler (AAGO)
Michael C. Haigler is a conductor of choral, orchestral, opera, and church music, a frequent organ and piano recitalist, published author and composer, vocal coach, and teacher. He made his New York conducting debut in 2004 with the Opera Company of Brooklyn’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro at CAMI Hall in Manhattan. He holds a magna cum laude performance degree from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with pianists Barry Snyder and Anton Nel, and conductors David Effron, Donald Hunsberger, and Donald Neuen, and is an alumnus of the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and International Fine Arts Institute. He currently serves as Music Director at Christ Church in Oyster Bay, Long Island, home to the Christ Church Festival Orchestra with which he has conducted masterworks such as Requiems by Mozart, Fauré, Brahms, and Rutter, and symphonies such as Mendelssohn's Italian, Beethoven's Ninth, and Mahler's Resurrection (complete). He also conducts regularly with the Seniors Orchestral Society of New York, the Bronx Opera Company, and at Festival 56, Illinois’ largest summer theater festival, which he helped found in 2004. Other recent credits include Atlanta Opera, Sarasota Opera, (FL) the Sarasota Pops Orchestra, Virginia Opera, Knoxville Opera (TN), and Cartersville Opera (GA). In 2001 he was a North American finalist in the Maazel-Vilar International Conducting Competition, and has also won many awards as a pianist, including the Atlanta Steinway Society competition, and state and regional divisions of MTNA’s Yamaha Competition. In 2015 Mr. Haigler became an Associate of the American Guild of Organists (AAGO), achieving the highest score in the nation on the written exam. Mr. Haigler was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and now lives in Manhattan with his wife, pianist Arielle Levioff.
Samples below include examples as an organist and choral conductor/choirmaster. Many other samples are found on the meda page.
CHORAL ANTHEM: All Things Bright And Beautiful (John Rutter) (original flute part by Michael C. Haigler)
From an Evensong service at Christ Church, Oyster Bay (Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 4pm
The Christ Church Adult Choir Michael C. Haigler, conductor Amber Maly, flute
CHOIR ANTHEM : Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee (Richard Proulx) The Christ Church Adult Choir, Michael C. Haigler, conductor
Recorded at Sunday morning service at Christ Church (September 21, 2014)
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN : "Lord, you give the great commission" (tune: Hyfrydol; descant and brass parts by M.C.Haigler)
Recorded at Christ Church's Tricentennial celebration (April 24, 2005 at 10am)
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN : "I am the bread of life" (piano improvisation, instrumental parts, and final harmony by Michael C. Haigler)
Recorded at Christ Church's Easter Sunday morning service (April 4, 2010 at 10am) Michael C. Haigler, piano and organ
ORGAN SOLO -- Bach: Fugue in D major (BWV 532) Presented to honor the life of Hellmuth Wolff (1937-2013) -- Recorded 10/1/2014
First performed on Nov. 20, 2013, shortly after the death of Hellmuth Wolff, this interpretation was presented to honor his life, and features as many of the different sounds as possible on his fine Opus 30 organ at Christ Church in Oyster Bay. (Michael C. Haigler, organ)
ORGAN SOLO: Bach: The "Little" Fugue in G minor
A practice session, highlighting the capabilites of the Schantz organ at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Decator, Georgia
ORGAN SOLO/COMPOSITION: Haigler: Toccata in G minor
A practice session, highlighting the capabilites of the Schantz organ at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Decator, Georgia