Narrative

Michelle Kinney, University of Minnesota Musician in Residence, teaches Music for Dance, accompanies dance classes, and advises dance major students. Michelle holds a BA from Northwestern University in Cello Performance and Composition, and an MA from New York University in Performance Studies. As a composer she has received awards and grants from The Bush Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, NEA/Rockefeller, Harvestworks/Studio Pass, and the American Composers Forum. Michelle co-founded the music label Sugarfoot Music, which recently released "Touch It", featuring some of Michelle's compositions with the cello-focused project, Jelloslave. (Sugarfootmusic.com)

She is a passionate dance fan, and has worked as a composer for dance throughout her career, in both The Twin Cities and New York City, where she lived for 13 years. In addition to leading several of her own ensembles, Michelle has recorded, performed and toured throughout Europe and the United States with some of the most respected innovators in new music today. Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Myra Melford, Leroy Jenkins, Shi-Zheng Chen, John Zorn, Bun-Ching Lamb, Brandon Ross and Steven Bernstein are among the artists calling on Michelle’s contributions as a cellist.

She has also worked extensively in pop music, including many recordings and appearances live and on TV (Tonight Show, Letterman, VHS Storytellers) with artists such as Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Lou Reed, John Cale, and Richie Havens.