Michael Bell

Michael Bell is a resident organist, composer and music teacher at King’s School, Remuera, Auckland. He studied organ and harpsichord with John Wells at the University of Auckland and after completing a BMus and diploma, began teaching Music at Avondale College in 2002. He was Director of Music at St Matthew's in the City from 2002 until 2016. He improvises on organ and piano with his own blend of Classical and Baroque elements. In 2016, St Matthews-in-the City performed his setting of Psalm 100. He won best performance of a NZ work at the Kids Sing in June 2017 with his setting of Roald Dahl’s poem, The Crocodile and also with Unuhia, Unuhia in 2023. In 2022 his Magnificat Antiquitatis premiered in Christchurch, and he has recently finished a collection of six piano sonatas. His Mass, Come, Christmas Child, premiered at Kerikeri in November 2023. Michael is currently sharing organ duties at St Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Auckland.