About Michelle

Michelle’s career spans contemporary music, movies, television, live performance, and more.

Career highlights

• Tours: Derek Hough, Symphony of Dance US Tour, TSO West Coast Tour, Okiem Dr. Dre Tribute Orchestral Rendition of 2001 West Coast Tour

• Writing, arranging and production for McKenna Grace Autumn Leaves EP with Photo Finish Records

• Writing and production for Jolly Holiday, Dick van Dyke’s 98th birthday tribute on CBS

• Writing, arranging and production for Maggie Lindemann

• Brent Faiyaz and Christina Perri bands for multiple dates

• Miley Cyrus for Disney+ Backyard Sessions, Flowers, River, The Climb

• Studio session for Michael Bolton Beautiful World (Unplugged)

• Studio session for Pink

• Live performances with Brent Faiyaz, for All Mine, on Jimmy Fallon at NBC, NYC

• Live performance with Pentatonix at the Hollywood Bowl

• Solo acoustic performances with Christina Perri, “A Thousand Years” and her new release, “Evergone”

• Full string section O.D. tracking session with producers Grey & Cory Enemy for upcoming Season 2 of League of Legends animated series, Arcane.

• Upcoming BBC Planet Earth III, for Bleeding Fingers, solo remote sessions with composers Dylan Price and Sara Barone.

• Late Late Show with James Corden, performed “Bigger Than Me” with Louis Tomlinson fro his album release, Faith in the Future.

• Solo sessions for Brawlhalla x Assassin’s Creed Legend character Ezio

• Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon at Jim Henson in Los Angeles, performing “Nothing Compares 2 U” with Toni Cornell in memory of her father, Soundgarden singer, Chris Cornell

• Live performance with Olivia Rodrigo of the hit song “Traitor” at 2021 American Music Awards

• Live stream performance from Capitol Records for Troye Sivan’s album release, “Bloom”, live performances at the Greek Theater.

• Live performances with Eminem, 5 Seconds of Summer, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Marco Antonio Solis, & more.

• Performed with Ava Max for an acoustic version of “My Head & My Heart”

• Performed with singer Camila Cabello on Apple TV’s “New Music Daily”

• Solo sessions for Bleeding Fingers for BBC Planet Earth series.

• Solo sessions for electronic pop duo, Grey (“The Middle” co w/ Zedd, Jack Ü)

• Performed in music video and recording sessions for Ashton Irwin’s 2020 Album, “Superbloom”. (5 Seconds of Summer)

• Solo sessions for contemporary artist Felicia Temple (The Voice) with producer Jae Deal (Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg)

• Solo sessions for Saosin’s Anthony Green & Summer Swee-Singh for Would You Still Be, an album reimagined with strings. Tracks Love, Real Magic, and When I Come Home

• Solo sessions for season finale of Raul Vega’s acclaimed “Rose Drive” podcast, named “Best Ten New Podcasts of the Year” by Forbes.

• Orchestral and solo sessions for Riot Games' video game League of Legends (Michael Barry/Sebastien Najand)

• Solo sessions with Bleeding Fingers for IMAX Great Bear Rainforest (Anže Rozman/Hans Zimmer),

• Solo sessions for Inon Zur & Sony Masterworks Into the Storm, track Duel of Hearts

• Solo/OD session for Wonders of the Sea 3D (Ariza, dir. Jean-Michel Cousteau)

• Live performance on the Ellen Degeneres Show with Troye Sivan

• Music video appearance for I See Stars’ acoustic album, Murder Mitten

• Consultant and body doubling for character Janine on Hallmark series "The Eleventh"

• Cello teacher for late WWE pro wrestler, Chyna

• Has played at Capitol Records, Jim Henson, Sony Scoring Stage, The Bridge, EastWest scoring Stage, The Village Recording, United Recording, Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and more

Current bio 

I studied an instrument steeped in classical tradition, but I came into this world with no preconceptions and an entrepreneur’s spirit. In my field, that means I pursue new technology and a full spectrum of musical expression: contemporary pop, folk, hip hop, film scores, EDM, rock, and more. 

Early in my career, I was selected via audition to participate in Hollywood Scoring's Future Session Players Clinic, coached by David Lowe, under the direction of the impeccable Bruce Broughton. In the years following, I had the honor of recording orchestral and solo sessions for Riot Games' multiplayer online game, "League of Legends". I have worked with hundreds of incredible musical projects. Some notable names include Camila Cabello, 5 Seconds of Summer, electronic pop producer duo Grey (Kyle & Michael Trewartha), Troye Sivan, I See Stars, Maisy Kay, Erick Morillo, Coolio, Eminem, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and more. I was a consultant for Hallmark’s streaming service, Feeln’, for their original series, "The Eleventh". Over the years, I have recorded at the Barbara Streisand Stage at Sony Pictures, The Bridge, Riot Games, United Recording on Sunset Blvd., East West Studios at Warner Bros, Clearlake Studios, The Village Recorder, and others. Most recently, I recorded solo cello for a project with Bleeding Fingers, a joint venture with the film composer, Hans Zimmer. 

For a time after I graduated from my classical performance degree, I taught as many as 30 students at once. One of my notable and very hard-working students was the late WWE wrestler, Joanie "Chyna" Laurer, who passed suddenly at a time in her life when the cello symbolized to her a rebirth. She was an amazing woman. After she passed, I collaborated with Coolio and contracted the musicians for her public memorial service. 

To supplement my performance career, I studied production at Berklee College of Music in Boston in addition to my classical performance degree. I also produce from home and have worked this way for clients like Bleeding fingers, Jae Deal, Felicia Temple, and other self-employed media composers, singer songwriters, and producers.

All musicians have those colleagues that bring the special joy of finding a brain buddy. For me, those people are pop producers Juan Ariza, Grant van Reyn, Aimee Casavant, and songwriter Kris Angelis. These musicians might not be household names (yet), but working with them is made of the stuff that gave me the feel for music as a kid. I’m so blessed to have them in my life and I have so, so much respect for each of them.

For the future, cello has always been the main focus of my life and it will continue to be. I have sacrificed so much to be the best version of myself. Ironically, by focusing all of my effort into the minute nuances of cello, music has become a broad metaphor for my journey through life. I am blessed that I had the opportunity to invest all of myself into something that reaps these inexplicable rewards. I am proud that I have done it while treating my colleagues with love and respect.

I believe in the new, limitless model of string playing, full of creative entrepreneurship for those who are brave enough to take risks. I support string players like cellist Tina Guo, violinist Lindsey Stirling, violinist Taylor Davis, and cellist Kevin Olusola, who are the boldest friends and colleagues I have. Their successes aren’t a pipe dream for the future; they are our present. They are the crest of the wave for string players reaching beyond the confines of classical rules. I am humbled by their hard work and dedication, and I strive to follow in their path, as I look forward to the rest of my life. I will continue to take risks and be glad I did.