ABOUT ME
Michael Lester is a native Texan and a graduate of Baylor University. While earning his Bachelors and Masters degrees in piano performance, he studied with Russian pianist and Artist-in-Residence, Krassimira Jordan. Following graduation, he studied at the Börsendorfor International Piano Academy in Vienna, Austria.
In 1994, Michael moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he served as a vocal coach at The Ohio State University, and was on the piano faculty at Columbus State Community College. In 1999, he joined the piano faculty at Ohio Wesleyan. In 2000, Mr. Lester joined the faculty at Otterbein College where he taught both piano and voice until 2008. In 2015, Michael joined Capital University as an adjunct faculty member and as a collaborative artist/pianist for the Chapel Choir, under the direction of Dr. Lynda Hassler. With them, he has had the privilege of playing at Carnegie Hall in 2016, and again in 2020. In 2019, he toured Belgium and Amsterdam with the Chapel Choir and choral composer, Jake Runestad and premiered "A Silence Haunts Me."
In May 2021, Michael retired as the full-time Minister of Music and the Arts at Peace Lutheran, in Gahanna, Ohio, having served there for almost 22 years. At Peace, Michael incorporated all facets of his musical background: gospel, sacred, classical and instrumental music, as well as opera, spirituals and choral music. His vision is to continue sharing his passion for sacred and classical in collaboration with his music friends in concert series at local churches, college campuses and other venues.
In the fall of 2021, Michael rejoined the Otterbein faculty as collaborative pianist and vocal coach, working with both classical singers and music theatre majors.
As of January 2022, Michael continues his work as a faculty member and collaborative artist at Capital University, as well as Otterbein University. In January and February 2022, Michael has been a guest pianist at Westerville Church of the Messiah United Methodist Church, Broad Street United Methodist Church and Westerville Community Church of Christ. As of March 1, 2022, he joined the church staff of Westerville Church of the Messiah as Pianist-in-Residence.
In 1994, Michael moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he served as a vocal coach at The Ohio State University, and was on the piano faculty at Columbus State Community College. In 1999, he joined the piano faculty at Ohio Wesleyan. In 2000, Mr. Lester joined the faculty at Otterbein College where he taught both piano and voice until 2008. In 2015, Michael joined Capital University as an adjunct faculty member and as a collaborative artist/pianist for the Chapel Choir, under the direction of Dr. Lynda Hassler. With them, he has had the privilege of playing at Carnegie Hall in 2016, and again in 2020. In 2019, he toured Belgium and Amsterdam with the Chapel Choir and choral composer, Jake Runestad and premiered "A Silence Haunts Me."
In May 2021, Michael retired as the full-time Minister of Music and the Arts at Peace Lutheran, in Gahanna, Ohio, having served there for almost 22 years. At Peace, Michael incorporated all facets of his musical background: gospel, sacred, classical and instrumental music, as well as opera, spirituals and choral music. His vision is to continue sharing his passion for sacred and classical in collaboration with his music friends in concert series at local churches, college campuses and other venues.
In the fall of 2021, Michael rejoined the Otterbein faculty as collaborative pianist and vocal coach, working with both classical singers and music theatre majors.
As of January 2022, Michael continues his work as a faculty member and collaborative artist at Capital University, as well as Otterbein University. In January and February 2022, Michael has been a guest pianist at Westerville Church of the Messiah United Methodist Church, Broad Street United Methodist Church and Westerville Community Church of Christ. As of March 1, 2022, he joined the church staff of Westerville Church of the Messiah as Pianist-in-Residence.