Anonymous
Source: Music Academy of the West
In the local trivia circles, many know Henry Michaels as someone to watch out for. Now, the Music Academy’s Director of Audience Experience and Engagement takes his impressive skillset to the Jeopardy! platform for a chance to win in front of a national televised audience.
Santa Barbarians can catch Henry in action on Tuesday, Feb 2 at 7pm on NBC (NBC affiliate is KSBY).
“Being a contestant on Jeopardy! was certainly an unforgettable experience. Just to make it through the audition and onto the show was a great honor. Although I’m sad to have just missed the tenure of the late great Alex Trebek, being one of the first contestants in the show’s next chapter was rewarding,” said Michael.
About Henry Michaels
Henry Michaels was born and raised in Morganton, North Carolina, a small town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. He has served as the Audience Services and Community Access Manager at the Music Academy of the West since August 2018, and in 2021 became the Director of Audience Experience and Engagement. Henry is also completing his PhD in Musicology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Henry Michaels is passionate about connecting audiences with the history and culture of music, inviting them to care about musical works, both new and old, in ways they may not have considered. He has taught lecture courses in the history and culture of music at both UC Santa Barbara and Westmont College, where he has been fortunate to guide a wide range of students, both music majors and non-majors, seeking to understand musical works and their contexts.
Henry holds a master’s degree in Musicology from UC Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in Trombone Performance from Towson University, as well as undergraduate degrees in both History and Music Performance from Lenoir-Rhyne University. When he isn’t working, teaching, or writing his dissertation, he enjoys reading, diligently managing his fantasy football teams, and spending time with his lovely wife Bridget as they prepare for the arrival of their first child in March.
About Music Academy of the West
Founded in 1947, Music Academy of the West offers year-round programming for the local community and talented musicians from around the world. Each year, 140 fellows ages 18-34 are selected by merit-based audition from more than 2,000 applicants worldwide to participate in an eight-week Summer School and Festival to prepare them for 21st-century careers. At the Summer Festival, they receive opportunities for advanced study and frequent orchestral, chamber, recital and masterclass performances under the guidance of more than 70 internationally renowned faculty and guest artists. Each fellow receives a full scholarship for tuition, room and board. In 2018, the Music Academy began a partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) that brings LSO musicians to Santa Barbara to teach and perform, and sends twelve Keston MAX Fellows to London for ten days of training and performance with the orchestra. Career-advancing opportunities for fellows and alumni are offered through the Academy’s Innovation Institute. Summer Innovation Seminars bring together industry leaders and cutting-edge artists to engage fellows and audiences in discussion about the present and future state of classical music, while the annual Fast Pitch Awards give fellows a platform to present their pioneering ideas. The Academy’s Alumni Enterprise Awards have provided $320,000 in grants for forward-thinking projects in artistic expression, audience development, education, community engagement, social justice and technology; recipients of the awards are also invited to attend a five-day Innovation Residential. Academy alumni create entrepreneurial careers in music and beyond and are members of major symphony orchestras, chamber orchestras, ensembles, opera companies, and academic faculties throughout the world. Music Academy of the West also provides music education locally through Sing!, a free, after-school choral initiative for seven-to-twelve-year-olds from 28 schools in Santa Barbara County. The Academy presents more than 150 public events annually in four campus venues and in sites across Santa Barbara and online. For more information, visit musicacademy.org.
