Michael Joel was appointed Music Director of Bay of Plenty Symphonia in 2025.
New Zealand-born conductor Michael Joel studied at Otago University with Professors
Jack Spiers and Peter Adams. Having completed his honours degree, he continued his studies with conductors Heinz Wallberg, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Jac van Steen, and at the Dartington International Summer School.
Equally at home in the orchestra, choral and operatic repertoire, Michael has conducted
extensively throughout New Zealand and the United Kingdom. He has worked at The Royal Opera House, assisting Antonio Pappano, Alexander Joel, Dan Ettinger, Placido Domingo, Oleg Caetani and Mark Minkowski.
He has conducted many of the established orchestras and companies in New Zealand – Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Opera Otago, the City of Dunedin Choir, NZSO National Youth Orchestra and, prior to relocating to London, principals and members of the NZSO and NZ String Quartet in a critically acclaimed performance of Mahler’s 4th Symphony.
Michael is currently Music Director of St Matthews Chamber Orchestra and has worked on the music staff of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as duty conductor on productions of Tosca, La Bohème, La Traviata and Carmen. He also assisted with the music preparation and children’s chorus for La Bohème and Carmen. He conducted pianist Pascal Rogé in Saint-Saëns 2nd Piano Concerto with the Lakeland Sinfonia in the UK to great acclaim.
Since returning to New Zealand Michael has continued his work with St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra, Opus Orchestra and Bay of Plenty Symphonia.