Michael Orland

Guest Artist

Michael Orland is an accomplished composer, musical director, arranger, and musician and vocal coach based in Los Angeles working in television, theatre and the club scene. For the past eight years, Michael has been musical director for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which plays annually in New York and throughout the US. He has collaborated with music legends such as Elton John, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, Neil Sedaka, and Diana Ross, and has made numerous television appearances including Oprah, The Today Show, and Ellen (over 40 times!).

But where you may best know Michael is from a little television series called American Idol. Find any video clip where the contestants are rehearsing their songs with a guest artist – and you’ll find Michael, the curly-haired guy on the piano. Michael has been with the show since its first year and has served as either the associate musical director, assistant music supervisor or primary pianist of Fox’s televised singing competition that has now gained cult status.

Michael is also one of the most acclaimed musical directors on the concert and nightclub scene, where he frequently plays and conducts for many entertainers including Gladys Knight, Clint Black, Barry Manilow, and Broadway legend Chita Rivera, among many others. Michael played for the hit shows Forbidden Broadway, Ruthless! and When Pigs Fly and made his Hollywood Bowl debut accompanying MGM’s dancing legend, Ann Miller.

Michael’s most recent work includes A Snow White Christmas performed at the Pasadena Playhouse featuring Ariana Grande and Neil Patrick Harris (musical direction, additional music and arrangements), as well Bergen’s Live At The Rrazz (musical direction).