Bio
Michelle Kwok is a versatile conductor, singer, and music educator from Hong Kong, recognized for her artistry and dedication to choral excellence. She was named the 2nd runner-up of the 2024 American Prize in Conducting: The Dale Warland Award, and has conducted and performed in Italy, Latvia, the USA, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Recent conducting engagements include Vaughan William's Dona Nobis Pacem, Bach’s Jesu, meine Freude, Fauré’s Requiem, Candeile’s Catherine ou la Belle Fermière, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. An advocate for contemporary choral music, Michelle has premiered works by living composers, including Daniel Cui’s Jasmine Flower, Thejas Mirle’s A Sighing Mist, Cheng-zhi Jin’s Farewell (Cantonese Version), and Elby Kwok’s Reborn.
Michelle is passionate about choral education and was twice awarded the Talent Development Scholarship (Music and Performing Arts). She has been appointed the director and associate conductor of Indiana University’s University Chorale, NOTUS, University Singers, Pro Cantare, Westminster Schola Cantorum and Chapel Choir, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Student Union Choir, Diocesan Choral Society, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Christian Choir, to name a few. Beyond the concert stage, Michelle has served as the chorus master of Nutcracker, assistant chorus master for operas Carmen, Don Giovanni, Ainadamar and Die lustige Witwe. During her time in Hong Kong, she co-founded the award-winning community choir, Fluente Chorus. She is an active adjudicator and conducting teacher, and has taught undergraduate conducting at Indiana University.
Michelle is currently pursuing her Doctor of Music in Choral Conducting at Indiana University, with minors in Music History & Literature and Historical Performance in Voice. She received degrees from Westminster Choir College (with Distinction) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has studied conducting with Simon Carrington, James Jordan, Chris Albanese, Betsy Burleigh, Dominick DiOrio, Alicia Brozovich, Sanders Lau, and Esmond Lim. She attended masterclasses taught by Gábor Hollerung, Charles Bruffy, Jason Max Ferdinand and Yunn-shan Ma. A classically trained singer, she studied voice with Judith Malafronte, Victoria Browers, Margaret Yim and Caleb Woo. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Education from CUHK, LRSM and DipABRSM (Distinction) in Voice.
Whether conducting a large symphonic chorus or chamber ensemble, Michelle is committed to bringing musicality and community to the ensembles she works with. Her ability to connect singers, audiences, and composers through thoughtful storytelling and interpretation sets her apart as an engaging musical leader. In her free time, she enjoys making soup and taking walks.
