Biography
Islagraphy
Education
Michael holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music with a minor in Spanish Literature and History and a Masters in Music Performance from The University of Akron School of Music. He has also received music scholarships from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music and Duquesne University School of Music.
During his college years he discovered complete freedom to expand his mental boundaries. City living gave Michael a sense of "worldliness" that justified the challenge Mom and Dad had with getting him home on the weekends despite Pittsburgh only being 40 minutes away from Steubenville. To this day he decrees that the Symphony Orchestra, Ballet, Opera and city parks were the reason he couldn't make it home and not the $.25 drafts at Zelda’s on Thursdays.
Duquesne University also had a strong sense of spirituality and the community bonded much like the Steubenville community. World renowned musicians visited the university in intimate settings and gave the student endless knowledge on how to refine their skills. To this day he utilizes this practice. Over the past year and a half he under the tutelage of world-renowned performer Jason Vieaux who is the Chair of Guitar at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Currently, Michael is working with the illustrious Stephen Aron and moving toward completing his Masters in Music performance. He was awarded his M.M. (Masters of Music) in August of 2009.
Performance and Community Involvement
Michael has been working with the National Federation of Music Clubs since he was a teenager and continues to enjoy performing and expanding the audience of the guitar for the state and local chapters. In addition, he works with various business and charity organizations providing music for worthy causes such as W.A.R.M. (Westerville Area Resource Ministry), National Organization of Women Business Owners, Am Spirit, Rotary Clubs and The Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women program of the YWCA.
Michael along with Renee Kropat and D.D. Parker began the "Breakfast with the Arts" program in Westerville, Ohio which is educational and performance oriented. Due to his affiliation with Rotary, he also was asked to participate in the "Music in the Round" concert as one of four featured artists September 9th, 2006 in Columbus, Ohio. In February 2006, his world premiered “Bebop in Slow Motion” by local composer Scott Michael Stein at Ohio State University’s Weigel Auditorium. He is a member of The Guitar Foundation of America and Columbus Guitar Society and also plays with the Columbus Guitar Ensemble that performs regularly at Capital University’s Huntington Recital Hall. With performances in Boston, New York, Columbus, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Toronto, Canada, Michael is an experienced veteran.
In summer 2006 Clear Channel contracted Michael for multiple performances for the VIP club at The Tower City Amphitheater and The Plain Dealer Pavilion, Cleveland, Oh.
Music
Michael's musical palette varies from classical to contemporary acoustic. The music he composes is an eclectic mix of exotic flavors that take the mind, body and soul to the new dimension of Acoustica. His instrumental debut album Acoustica evokes the spectrum of human emotion through sonic architecture. With various tunings such as DADGAD, DADGBD, CGDGBD and EADGBE Michael blends multicultural musical influences with style and grace.
Instrumentation
Michael Isla plays cedar and spruce Michael Thames, DeVoe and Montalvo Classical Guitars with Galli Strings and Taylor Acoustic Guitars with Elixir Strings. Michael also utilizies advanced classical techniques as well as heavy pics for the acoustic guitar.
Discography
Acoustica 2006
New Album coming Fall 2009!
Links
| http://www.IslaGuitar.com |
| Random Acts of Music TV Show |
| Isla Guitar Community |