Biography

Described as “scintillating” and “tremendously virtuosic” (The Straits Times, Singapore), Michael T. C. Hey has established himself as a leading concert organist in the U.S. and abroad. Hey performs both as a soloist and collaborative artist, from organ concertos with major American orchestras to recitals in historic cathedrals, churches, and concert halls.

In the 2026–27 season, Hey will perform solo recitals at Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Washington National Cathedral. He will also appear as organ soloist in the premiere of a new double concerto for organ and piano at Alice Tully Hall.

Hey recently performed the closing recital of the Organ Historical Society’s 2025 National Convention, where The Tracker described his playing as “fabulously talented” and “both beautiful and heartfelt” (October 2025). He has also appeared as a featured performer at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists and the Organ Historical Society.

Hey has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony on several occasions and has performed at notable venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Kimmel Center, the Kennedy Center, the Esplanade in Singapore, and Overture Hall in Madison. He was also the featured organ soloist for New York City Ballet’s commissioned work Acheron, set to the music of Francis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto, with his performance described by The New York Times as “vividly played.”

Not exclusively a solo organist, Hey enjoys a varied career that includes collaborations with other musicians, solo piano performances, chamber music, new works for the organ, improvising, and transcribing works. He regularly collaborates with pianist and composer Nahre Sol; recent projects include Meditations and Lullabies, a 2025 program for organ and piano at Marble Collegiate Church. He has also performed works and arrangements for violin and organ with violinist Christiana Liberis in the Hey-Liberis Duo.

In 2023, Hey was appointed Director of Music and Organist of Manhattan’s historic Marble Collegiate Church, where he conducts the 18-voice professional Marble Choir and oversees the church’s broad musical life. He also serves as Assistant Music Director at Park Avenue Synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. From 2015 to 2023, he served as Associate Director of Music and Organist at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, where he performed for the sole U.S. visit of Pope Francis and was heard by millions through services, broadcasts, and online platforms. Previously, he was Assistant Organist at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church for five years.

Hey received First Prize in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music’s First International Organ Competition and was named one of The Diapason’s “Top 20 Under 30” organists. His debut solo recording, Michael T. C. Hey Plays the Great Organ of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, was released on JAV Recordings. He was also a finalist in the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hey is a graduate of The Juilliard School’s accelerated five-year program, earning both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in organ performance under Paul Jacobs.

www.michaelhey.com

Short Biography

Described as “scintillating” and “tremendously virtuosic” (The Straits Times, Singapore), Michael T. C. Hey has established himself as a leading concert organist in the U.S. and abroad, performing both as a soloist and collaborator with American orchestras and ensembles.

In the 2026–27 season, he will perform solo recitals at Walt Disney Concert Hall (home of the LA Philharmonic) and Washington National Cathedral. He will also appear as organ soloist in the premiere of a new double concerto for organ and piano at Alice Tully Hall.

Described as “fabulously talented” by The Tracker, he recently performed the closing recital for the Organ Historical Society’s 2025 National Convention.

In 2023, Michael was appointed Director of Music and Organist of Manhattan’s historic Marble Collegiate Church. From 2015 to 2023, he served as Associate Director of Music and Organist at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, where he performed for the sole U.S. visit of Pope Francis. Previously, he was Assistant Organist at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church for five years.