Internationally known for his innovative and inspiring hymn festivals and for his creative work with children, Michael Burkhardt is in frequent demand as a choral clinician, organ recitalist, and hymn festival leader. 

From 2001-2007 he served on the faculty of Carthage College (ELCA) in Kenosha, WI, as Director of Choral Activities, College Organist, and Artist in Residence.  Prior to his appointment at Carthage, he was a Faculty Associate in organ at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.  In addition, he served Christ College Irvine (LCMS), Irvine, CA, as College Organist and head of studies in church music and music education, as well as Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, and Trinity Seminary, Columbus, OH, as Guest Lecturer in their Master of Sacred Music programs.  He is currently Director of Worship and the Arts at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Livonia, Michigan.

Dr. Burkhardt is a graduate of Carthage College, Kenosha, WI.  He earned his M.M. degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, and his D.M.A. degree from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. 

He has performed and led seminars at both national and regional events for the American Guild of Organists, the Hymn Society, the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and the American Choral Directors Association.  He made his symphonic hall debut in 1999, leading a Lutheran Hymn Festival as organist-conductor at the Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas, TX.  In the Fall of 2003 he toured in South Korea, presenting hymn festival-organ recitals and service playing-improvisation seminars.  He returned to South Korea in May of 2007 and in October of 2008 to perform and teach at Yonsei, Mokwon, and Seoul Theological Universities.  In May of 2010 he will travel to Singapore to teach at the Methodist Conservatory of Music and lead a hymn festival in celebration of the 125^th anniversary of the Methodist Church in Singapore.

Dr. Burkhardt is author of Part-Singing Global Style, a resource focusing on sequential part-singing techniques in treble arrangements of global pieces, and author of Singing with Understanding, a curriculum utilizing the great hymns, folksongs and spirituals of the Church to share faith stories and to teach the elements of music and worship.  He is composer of two settings of the Eucharistic liturgy, A New Song and Missa St. Andrew, as well as numerous organ improvisations, choral octavos and handbell compositions, available through MorningStar Music Publishers of St. Louis, MO.