Michael Hollis
Bio
Michael Hollis has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Performance on guitar at SUNY New Paltz, where he studied with guitarists Tom Dempsey and Mark Dziuba. Following graduation, Michael embarked further into his musical journeys as composer, arranger, performer, and teacher.
Michael made his debut as an original composer in 2018 after receiving funding for his symphonic/electronic work "The Edge of the Hill" from Arts Mid Hudson's Individual Artist Commission grant. Michael created a piece inspired by the environment of Ulster County and what its community members do to preserve and protect it, using affected clips from interviews combined with music written for a 10-piece chamber orchestra.
Michael transcribed and arranged the original ballet by Richard Masloski entitled, The Secret Annex, for the Orange County Symphony and Ballet Theater for its performance at Aquinas Hall on the campus of Mount Saint Mary College on Sunday, May 1 2016.
As performer, Michael Hollis has been performing in an assortment of Jazz combos(most recently his new project Mortet, whose debut EP is to be released in 2019), released Flyaway Garden with Breakfast in Fur on Bar/None Records, plays with Indie-Rock group Blue Museum, released his debut solo folk/ambient influenced EP entitled Lost and Found in 2017), and performing and recording harmonica for an assortment of artists.
Michael recently helped found the Hudson Valley Music Collective, a collective of working musicians dedicated to teaching and passing on the gift of music. Michael teaches private Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, and Music Theory Lessons throughout the Hudson Valley with the HVMC and hosts workshops, master classes, and jam sessions.