Michael Roest leads a dynamic and multifaceted career as a conductor, music educator, administrator, and social entrepreneur. As the Founder and Director of the International Pride Orchestra (IPO), he has brought together LGBTQ+ musicians from around the world to perform concerts, build community, and advocate for LGBTQ+ causes. Under his leadership, IPO has presented impactful concerts in San Francisco and New York City, featuring drag superstars Peaches Christ and Thorgy Thor, raising funds for LYRIC and SAGE, which serve queer youth and elders, respectively.

 

As an educator, Roest served on the conducting faculty of the San Jose Youth Symphony. He also created and led the first-ever Pre-College Contemporary Music Ensemble at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, cultivating a community of young musicians passionate about creating new music. At the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, he was the Teacher of Brass Studies and directed the Oberlin Brass Ensemble. During his tenure, he established the now-longstanding tradition of the Empty Mugs Holiday Brass & Organ Spectacular, an event that unites musicians, ceramic artists, and local businesses to raise funds for Oberlin Community Services. Additionally, as the Executive and Artistic Director of the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra, he led the Philharmonia Orchestra and Rhythm & Brass Ensemble.

 

With an extensive background in arts administration, Roest has held key positions at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), including Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Dean and Executive Director of Pre-College and Continuing Education.

 

He holds degrees from The Juilliard School of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. A distinguished tubist, he trained at the National Repertory Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Weill Institute at Carnegie Hall. His performance highlights include appearing as a soloist with the Kenosha Symphony and performing with Alarm Will Sound, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and the Rockettes in the annual Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

 

As a conductor, Roest attended the International Conducting Institute, where he conducted the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic. He furthered his conducting studies at the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute and the Orchestral Conducting Symposium at Michigan State University. Throughout his studies, he has had the privilege of learning from conductors Diane Wittry, Kirk Trevor, Anna Edwards, Kevin Noe, Joanne Erwin, and Timothy Weiss. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Music Degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Michigan with Professor Kenneth Kiesler.