MIKE RUCKLES
Guest Artist Music Director

Michael Ruckles serves as musical director/private voice faculty for the School of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Northern Colorado. Originally from Cañon City, he studied piano at the University of Southern Colorado before completing a degree in Voice and an M.M. in Collaborative Piano at UNC.

He maintains a busy private studio specializing in technique for Musical Theatre and Contemporary Commercial Music. His students have appeared in leading roles on and off-Broadway and in National tours. At UNC, Michael teaches private voice and music directs the Freshman Practicum, and the NYC Agent Showcase for the Senior class. Michael has music directed/conducted Grand Hotel, The Sound of Music, Bat Boy, Oliver!, Jekyll and Hyde, A Grand Night for Singing, Titanic, Cabaret, The Secret Garden, A Chorus Line and the world premiere of Go-Go Beach.

Recently, Michael worked as vocal coach/assistant musical director for a demo recording of the rock musical Chess produced for Sir Tim Rice. Michael was the guest musical director for Voices of Freedom, a Denver fundraiser benefiting the victims of 9/11, and in 2001, sang backup for Sarah Brightman’s “La Luna” tour with Josh Groban. He served as music director/pianist for the 2007 workshop/reading of Frank Wildhorn’s new musical “Wonderland” starring Brandi Burkhardt and the 2008 workshop/reading of Wildhorn’s “Havana”. In summer of 2005, Michael was honored to join the faculty of the Broadway Theatre Project in Tampa, FL. He is a proud member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is a frequent NATS lecturer/clinician.

Each summer Michael presents at the Center for Voice and Speech in Denver, where he lectures on technique for Musical Theatre with preeminent voice scientist Dr. Ingo Titze as part of the Summer Vocology Institute. In 2008, Michael music directed and composed music for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts premiere of Girls Only. As a pianist, he has worked with such luminaries as Hugh Jackman, Raúl Esparza, and Sherie Rene Scott.