Biography
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Described as “scintillating” and “tremendously virtuosic” (The Straits Times, Singapore), Michael Hey has established himself as a reputable concert organist in the U.S. and abroad. Hey performs solo and collaboratively, from organ concertos with top American orchestras to organ performances in historic cathedrals and churches.
Since 2023, Michael has served as Director of Music and Organist of the historic Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. Founded in 1628, it is the oldest church congregation in New York State. Michael also serves as Assistant Music Director at Park Avenue Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Prior to his appointment at Marble Collegiate Church, Michael served at two other distinguished congregations on Fifth Avenue. He served as Associate Director of Music and Organist of the famed Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City from 2015-2023, where one of his first major tasks was to perform for the first U.S. visit of Pope Francis. Michael played at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for services throughout the week and had been heard by millions visiting the cathedral or on live broadcasts via Sirius XM radio, television, and online. From 2010-2015, Michael served as Assistant Organist at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Michael has performed solo recitals and lectured for several American Guild of Organists conventions and conferences. In 2017, Michael received first prize in the First Shanghai Conservatory of Music International Organ Competition, held at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Theater. In 2017, Michael released his premiere solo CD recording Michael T. C. Hey plays the Great Organ of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York by the JAV recording label. In 2016, he was recognized as one of the top “20 Under 30” organists by The Diapason magazine and was a finalist in the Longwood Gardens Organ Competition.
Michael has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony on several occasions. In 2014, he was the featured organ soloist for the New York City Ballet’s newly commissioned work Acheron. Set to the music of Francis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto, his performance at its premiere was "vividly played" (The New York Times, 2014). Michael has performed at notable venues such as Lincoln Center (New York), Carnegie Hall (New York), Madison Square Garden (New York), the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia), the Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), the Esplanade (Singapore), and Overture Hall (Madison).
Not exclusively a solo organist, Michael enjoys a varied career that includes collaborations with other musicians, solo piano recitals, improvising, and transcribing works. He is a proponent of new works for organ and has premiered a number of compositions. He performs works and arrangements for violin and organ with violinist Christiana Liberis in the Hey-Liberis duo.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Michael graduated from the accelerated five-year degree program at The Juilliard School, where he received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in organ performance under Paul Jacobs.