Active as a conductor, pianist, and vocal coach, Michael McElvain has been heard on Chicago's WFMT radio broadcasts, including a live, month-long cycle of the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven, the WFMT Membership Drive, and the contemporary music program Relevant Tones, leading VOX 3 in the concert premiere of Patricia Morehead's new opera, Black Hawk Speaks. As a soloist and collaborative artist, Mr. McElvain has appeared in masterclasses led by Leon Fleisher, Emanuel Ax, David Daniels, and preeminent vocal coach, Martin Katz. Beyond classical music, he has toured Europe as keyboardist for the progressive rock group, Pavlov's Dog.
Mr. McElvain has been a featured conductor and concerto soloist with the Webster Symphony Orchestra, served as Chorus Master for The Chicago Bach Ensemble, Music Director for CUBE Ensemble's first-ever opera production, conducted musical theatre works by Stephen Sondheim, and recently led The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis in the final concert of their 2013-14 season. He presently serves on the accompanying staffs of Columbia College and DePaul University, Chicago and with Musica Nelle Marche in Urbino, Italy.