Michael Kallstrom

Michael Kallstrom has been composing and performing multi-media art works for over 25 years. The works of his Electric Opera series have been performed over 200 times and combine singing, acting, audio and visual media, and puppetry. His music has been performed on all seven continents, including Antarctica. His compositions include an opera, "Sunday Pages," on an original libretto, and an electronic ballet score for a new version of "Frankenstein."

Kallstrom grew up in a musical family that sang together for entertainment, improvising their own harmonies. Early health problems stemming from birth defects drew him to the internal world of music and art. Lessons in piano and drawing had him composing and making things at a young age. Growing up in Miami (FL), he played keyboards and sang in rock, country, disco and jazz ensembles.

After deciding to pursue music rather than visual art in college, he studied composition at the University of Miami. He played on a cruise ship for a year before going on to earn a Master's degree at the University of North Carolina where he studied with Roger Hannay. At Florida State University, he studied with John Boda for his doctorate in composition. A full time teaching job took him to Westminster Choir College in Princeton (NJ), although he lived in the New York City area to take advantage of the vibrant arts community. Teaching finally brought him to Western Kentucky University where he is now Coordinator of Composition and Theory and a University Distinguished Professor, the institution's first in the performing or visual arts.

Having created and performed six Electric Operas, Kallstrom continues to produce interdisciplinary works. Recent interests include animated videos, created by the composer and making use of iPhone and iPad drawing apps, that serve as catalysts for his vocal improvisations, sung over processed audio tracks. Other projects include the release of a second CD of his flute chamber music and an orchestra work to be premiered in China.

ELECTRIC OPERA, a series of five, solo vocal works with electronic tape, puppets and videos, have been performed over 200 times in the United States and Canada for colleges and universities, festivals and concert series, public schools and churches. Clcik on the links for more information about STORIES, STAINED LIGHT, INTO THE DEEP, GHOSTS!! and TELL ME YOUR NAME. A children's opera, SCHOOL'S OUT, was commissioned and premiered by McNeill Elementary School as part of musical residency with the school.

In 2010, Kallstrom premiered the sixth ELECTRIC OPERA that includes live vocal and instrumental performers, dancer, improvisation, electronic music and animated video created by the composer based on poems about sleep and dreams called LIFE IS DREAMING