Michael Bauer works with music. Depending on the day of the week, he’s an instrumentalist, a composer, and a teacher.
Michael spends most days serving as organist at St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana. His playing can be heard during many of the daily monastic liturgies, and he accompanies the college’s Schola Cantorum when in session as well. Beyond the Abbey, Michael has worked at many parishes in the greater New Orleans area and previously led music for Masses in Loyola University’s Ignatius Chapel. Other recent organ engagements include playing on orchestral works with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and chamber works with local ensembles. As a pianist, Michael continues to work as a staff accompanist with the Loyola University School of Music and Theatre Arts and enjoys collaborating with singers and other instrumentalists in all sorts of settings.
As a freelance trumpet player, Michael has performed regularly with numerous local groups, including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra. He has also worked in brass bands and with horn lines for touring acts.
He writes and arranges music too - his liturgical music is regularly used at the Abbey, and his experience includes film scoring and writing for an array of instrumental settings. Though, the organ seems to now be the most common canvas.
Michael maintains a studio of private students in organ and trumpet, and although no longer a classroom teacher, he did start his professional career as a school band director.
Michael holds a Master of Music in Organ and Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Performance from Loyola University New Orleans, where he studied with Dr. Marcus St. Julian and Dr. Nick Volz.