COMPOSER · ORCHESTRATOR
Michelle Isaac is a Chicago-based composer, orchestrator, and arranger. Take a look around to learn more about her, her music, and to get in touch!
Premiere of Mother Bickerdyke string quartet
October 18, 2023 at 7:30pm, Symphony Center, Galesburg, IL
October 19, 2023 at 7:30pm, Central Congregational Church, Galesburg, IL
Commissioned by the Galesburg Symphony Society, this piece honors Mary Ann Bickerdyke, a Civil War hero from Galesburg, IL.
2023 Chicago songslam
winner!
Michelle’s piece, “What Every Woman Must Not Say,” was premiered by soprano Angela Born and pianist Jordan Crice at Fourth Coast Ensemble’s annual Chicago songSLAM. It was the audience favorite, bringing home First Place in the poetry-slam-style competition.
Photo by Elliot Mandel Photo
Recent Performances:
January 28, 2024 performance of Hope!, Northbrook, IL
January 17 and 18, 2024 performance of excerpt from Moshe’s dream, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth, TX
October 18, 2023 premiere of Mother Bickerdyke, for string quartet, Galesburg, IL
October 19, 2023 performance of Mother Bickerdyke, for string quartet, Galesburg, IL
May 17, 2023 premiere of Awakening at Wooded Ridge, Woodridge, IL
March 26, 2023 premiere of What Every Woman Must Not Say, Evanston, IL
Are Women People? New Songs with Rhymes from Suffrage Times
Check out our DCASE-supported art song project!
2022 Highlights
“…As was demonstrated in Isaac’s Moshe’s Dream, when the music is good enough, you can trust the audience to enjoy it without assistance.”
-Katherine Buzard, Chicago Classical Review, May 17, 2022
Read the full article here! Photo by Chicago Sinfonietta / Todd Rosenberg
Michelle was awarded a 2022 Individual Artist Grant from DCASE to fund her upcoming art song project, “Are Women People?”
Michelle was awarded a 2022 Gerts and Hammond Award in Composition from the Musicians Club of Women!