Hailing from the Washington DC area, Michael comes to Athena with a multi-faceted background as a classical violist with years of experience in high-end stringed instrument business operations. He is passionate about making music accessible and empowering underserved communities by breaking down barriers within the music world. At Athena, he blends his decades long experience with the art of collaboration in music-making with his quick adaptability and creative problem-solving. Michael has studied at The Juilliard School, The Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, and the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University.