Dr. Michael Ballard is an enthusiastic and passionate conductor and educator currently serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor and the Director of Choral Activities at Regis University. In this role, he conducts the Concert Choir and University Choir, teaches music theory, and serves as the Voice Area Coordinator.
Before joining Regis University, Michael directed several community and church choirs, sang in professional choirs, and taught in the K-12 school system. In the classroom, he advocates for a holistic approach to music-making to foster well-rounded musicianship. He strongly believes in empowering young musicians through musical literacy and employs active learning and applied engagement strategies. His scholarly interests include analyzing and demystifying post-tonal choral music by composers such as Herbert Howells. He is also interested in using solfège as an analytical tool to enhance music theory skills in choral rehearsals.
Michael holds degrees from MSU Denver, the University of Denver Lamont School of Music, and the University of South Carolina, where he studied Music Education, Music Composition, Conducting, and Music Theory Pedagogy. Outside of teaching, Michael enjoys hiking, bicycling, and traveling with his fiancée, Meredith.
