After many years as a violinist, Michael studied conducting with Robert Rosen in Melbourne completing his Graduate Diploma in Music ( Conducting) in 1992 at the Victoria College of the Arts. He undertook further studies in the UK and Czech Republic with a number of conducting teachers. Michael’s choral conducting with several Melbourne choirs has included works by Handel, Haydn, Britten, Honneger, Bruckner, Mozart and Schubert, as well as assorted programs His music theatre work around Melbourne has been recognized with many Best Musical Director awards and nominations for shows such as Les Miserables, West Side Story, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chess and Miss Saigon.
Michael formed the Loughlin Chamber Orchestra in 1996 which continued to perform a wide repertoire around Victoria until 2002.
Since moving to Darwin, Michael has conducted the Darwin Symphony Orchestra and the Palmerston City Concert Band and was appointed Assistant Musical Director to the Darwin Chorale in June 2010. Since then he has assisted the Musical Director in preparing the choir for a range of concerts including African Sanctus and Back to Bacharach – The Chorale in Cabaret and led the choir in a combined Darwin Symphony/Darwin Chorale concert, Opera under the Stars. At the end of 2011, Michael assisted with the concert Darwin Chorale Celebrates Christmas, conducting a number of carols and Gloria by John Rutter.