Cellist and conductor Michael Dahlenburg, studied with Howard Penny (Chamber Orchestra of Europe) and Molly Kadarauch (Australian Chamber Orchestra) at the University of Melbourne–Conservatorium of Music, and has studied conducting with Sir John Hopkins OBE and Maestro Christopher Semen, Chief Conductor of Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in the U.S.A. He was Fellow at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) in 2009. Michael is Principal Cellist of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and has guest conducted MCO. He has worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, ACO2, Melbourne Symphony, Orchestra Victoria amongst others. As a cellist, Michael is in demand nationally and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician and teacher. He has worked with many international artists, including Pekka Kuusisto, Howard Penny, Steve Davislm, William Hennessy and many others. He was ACO’s Emerging Artist in 2008 and was a founding member of the acclaimed Hamer Quartet, that wonFirst Prize, Grand Prize and Audience Prize at the 2009 Asia-Pacific Chamber Competition. He has given concerts at many festivals around Australia and internationally, including Norfolk Norwich Chamber Music series in UK, International Musicians Seminar – Prussia Cove, Pro Quartet in Paris, Costa del Sol in Spain, Seoul Arts Centre South Korea and many others. He has studied chamber music with Gerhard Schulz, Paul Katz, Andras Kellar, Heime Müller, Barbara Westphal, Hatto Beyerle, Artemis, Tokyo, Jerusalem Quartet and many others. Michael has guest conducted the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra since 2012, to critical acclaim. As a member of Symphony Services International Conductor Program (under the guidance of Christopher Seamen) in 2010, Michael conducted the Tasmanian Symphony, Adelaide Symphony and Auckland Philharmonic Orchestras. Michael’s 2015 performances included reviews from The Australian, “Haydn’s jovial Symphony No. 60 was shaped with energy and clarity by conductor Michael Dahlenburg”, “Dahlenburg’s compositional and performance skills were also on display, the young cellist leading the ensemble”, “most impressive”. He has conducted orchestras for arts organisations such as Australian National Academy of Music, Melbourne Youth Music, State Music Camp, Youth Philharmonic Melbourne, Corpus Medicorum, Stonnington Symphony and Australian Medical Students Orchestra. Michael has been broadcast many times live and recorded live broadcast as soloist and chamber musician on the ABC (Australian Broadcast Corporation) and Hamer Quartet’s debut CD on Melba Records international release which included the rarely recorded “On Wedlock edge” by Benjamin Britten was reviewed by BBC Radio 3 as “eloquent… If the programme appeals – and i think it’s unique – then buy it – the Britten is the stuff.” Michael will be conducting the close of MCO’s 2016 season in November and the opening of the 2017 MCO season, with guest cellist Li Wei Qin. Michael plays a 1780 J Charles donated by Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, the Tallis Foundation, Hamer Family Fund and other private donors. He would also like to thank Merv Dickey for commissioning his 2015 Ersen Aycan cello.