BioMICHAEL MALIAKEL (Baritone) is quickly gaining recognition for his refined singing in repertoire spanning opera, art song, and musical theater. He was praised by the Baltimore Sun for his “smooth singing” as De Brétigny in Massenet’s Manon with the Peabody Opera Theatre. Other opera credits include Monsieur Presto in Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tirésias, the Shoe Salesman in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco, Raimondo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and the baritone in Philip Glass’ Hydrogen Jukebox. Michael’s concert appearances have included the baritone solos in Handel's Messiah, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Fauré’s Requiem, Rossini's Petite messe solennelle, Bach's Magnificat, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Michael recently took first place in the National Music Theater Competition and was a finalist in the Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Competition. A native of New Jersey, Michael received his earliest vocal training as a treble in the American Boychoir before pursuing a BM from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. In addition to his solo pursuits, Michael enjoys teaching voice privately and performing regularly with some of New York City’s finest vocal ensembles.