Biography
Michael Allen Harrison is a North American pianist and composer. Trained at the Portland State University School Of Music, Michael began his career as a classical composer, later incorporating other styles and genres such as pop, jazz, new age, musical theater, rock, folk, and world music. Michael was honored with a star on the walk of fame in front of the Portland Performing Arts Center for his artistic and community contributions to his beloved city- Portland, Oregon. Michael Allen Harrison delivers music to the heart. His classical contemporary style carves a distinct niche of timeless music that has connected with thousands throughout his three-decade career. As an iconic artist, he is known for his magical piano solo performances and recordings, his upbeat sound with his band, his work with inspiring vocalist Julianne Johnson, his skills producing and creating music for ballet, theater and film, his love for teaching and for his giving spirit. Michael is the founder of the Snowman Foundation and the Play It Forward Program. Creator of the Ten Grands concert series and the beloved Christmas At The Old Church concert series, approaching its 37th season. He has created 96 albums to date released through MAH Records.
During the pandemic he created a daily channel on YouTube called Anti Anxiety Covid-19 music.
L E G A C Y
Michael was honored with a star on the walk of fame in front of the Portland Performing Arts Center for his artistic and community contributions to his beloved city- Portland, Oregon. A Yamaha / Bosendorfer Artist, Michael is the founder of the Snowman Foundation, a nonprofit which has raised over 3 million dollars for music education supporting school programs and community centers. The organization has made hundreds of instruments and scholarships available to gifted yet disadvantaged children. He created the Ten Grands concert series as the main platform and fundraiser for the Snowman Foundation / Play it Forward. In "Ten Grands", Michael joins forces with nine other pianists performing together on ten pianos to benefit the mission of The Play It Forward program. The concert is approaching its 16th season. Michael expanded his mission to Seattle and created a 75-minute matinee show especially for local students. The "Ten Grands for Kids" shows feature talented young artists performing alongside seasoned professionals. Throughout all of his concerts and appearances,
Michael loves to remind the world of the importance of music education.
R E C O G N I T I O N
His record, "Emotional Connection", received a NASA Orbiting Certificate for air play in space on the space shuttle ENDEAVOR. His 1994 album "Circle of Influence" went up on the space shuttle DISCOVERY. On January 29, 1999, Michael was invited to perform in NYC at the United Nations premiering "Remembrance", a tribute song to the 50th Anniversary of Israel's independence (which can be heard on his benefit CD "Seasons of Peace", recorded for the organization "Season of Non-Violence"). Additionally, Michael performed at THE WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE at the Hague in the Netherlands on May 14, 1999. He has performed for President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and Quincy Jones during their visit to Portland, Oregon. As the opening act for the Celebrity Forum Interactive Speaker Series, Michael played for Walter Cronkite, Jerry Spence, Margaret Thatcher, Jerry Lewis, Colin Powell, Jan Schlichtman and James Whitmore. He also composed and performed a new work entitled "Ocean of Wisdom" for the Dalai Lama.
Every year, Michael presents a new composition with The Portland Festival Symphony during their summer concert series. In 2008, he was honored by
the Oregon Symphony by the presentation of a two hour program highlighting Michael' compositions.
F I L M
Michael scored the motion pictures "Claire of the Moon" (1992), James Westby's "Anoosh of the Airways" (1998), the short films "Mortified Man" and
"Both Sides Now", and a documentary for OPB, "Age of Infamy". Additionally, he has produced scores for national infomercials such as Solo Flex and Nordic Flex Gold, as well as a national commercial for United Way.
B A L L E T & T H E A T E R
Michael premiered a new ballet with the Vancouver Dance Theater in April 1999, depicting The Velveteen Rabbit, the children's classic story by Marjorie Williams. Michael also scored a children's musical version of The Velveteen Rabbit for the Oregon Children's Theater and premiered it for Christmas 2000.
As the music director for the American Dance Theater in Portland in 1988, Michael wrote the score for Snowman: A Winter Ballet. This children's ballet was locally popular for years until the dispersion of the American Dance Theater in 1994. Michael has also acted as the company pianist for the Pacific Ballet Theater, Ballet Oregon, and Oregon Ballet Theater. He premiered his musical Prometheus at The Lakewood Theater in 2009. The following year, he was one of the four composers who contributed to the hit musical, 69. In 2012, he created The Snowman And The Red Thread, a children's story and ballet featuring Polaris Dance Theater. In the same year, he wrote the music for Stumptown Stages' hit musical "It's A Wonderful Life" (additional music by Julianne Johnson, book and lyrics by Alan Berg and Janet Mouser). In 2015, Stumptown Stages premiered "Soul Harmony", created by the same creative team. The team of Michael Allen harrison & Alan berg have since formed their own production company Harrison Berg Productions and their catalogue consists of Crossing Over A Musical Haggadah / It's A Wonderful Life Jr. / Soul Harmony & Prometheus
~Discography ~
Michael has released 96 albums from 1986 - 2025
1986 - Tea Court Interlude - Piano solo 1988 - Previews - Piano solo
1988 - The Snowman / Winter ballet
1988 - Previews - piano solo
1989 - 3rd Avenue - Michael Harrison Band/jazz fusion
1990 - Moments In Passion - Michael Harrison Band/jazz fusion
1992 - Emotional Connection - Piano & Orchestrations
1993 - Circle of Influence - Michael Allen Harrison & Friends
1993 - Enchanted Christmas - Piano & Orchestrations
1994 - Fabric of Life - Benefit CD for Aids
1995 - A Tribute to Gershwin & Friends - Piano & Orchestrations
1995 - Little Neighborhood - Piano & Orchestrations
1995 - Enchanted Christmas Vol II - Michael Allen Harrison & Friends
1996 - Matter of Time - Michael Allen Harrison & Friends : Sheffield Labs
1996 - Coming of Age - Michael Allen Harrison & Bill Lamb-Vocals
1997 - Passion & Grace - Michael Allen Harrison - Piano solo
1997 - The Golden Child - Michael Allen Harrison -Piano & Orchestrations
1998 - Live at the Benson-Michael Allen Harrison - Piano and ensemble
1998 - Rerelease 3rd Avenue - Michael Harrison band/jazz fusion
1998 - Christmas at the Old Church- Michael Allen Harrison family and friends
1999 - Seasons of Peace w/ Metropolitan Youth Symphony
1999 - The Velveteen Rabbit Children's Ballet- Michael Allen Harrison - Piano & Orchestrations
1999 - Nutcracker Suite- with his version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker
2000 - Millennium Live CD- Recorded Live at The Old Church New Years Eve
2000 - Steinway Sessions - Piano solo - Limited Edition honoring Michael becoming a Steinway Signature Artist
2000 - Cheek to Cheek - with Julianne Johnson
2001 - The Velveteen Rabbit / Oregon Children's Theater- Musical theater production
2001 - Reflections of Tea - Piano Solo
2001 - Snowfall - For Christmas, Piano & Orchestrations
2002 - Inspired - with Julianne Johnson
2002 - Composer /Pianist Double CD
2002 - Journey Home - For Christmas
2003 - Rose Garden Suite - 96th Annual Rose Festival Commemorative CD - piano solo
2004 - Expressions of Chocolate - Piano solo and Quartet
2004 - Holiday Jazz - Michael Allen Harrison Quartet - with Tim Ellis, Phil Baker and Israel Annoh
2004 - Christmas festival Of lights at The Grotto - Piano solo
2005 - Bedtime Lullabies - Piano solo
2005 - Fireside Carols - Piano solo sing along
2005 - Christmas on Peacock Lane - With Julianne Johnson
2005 - Prometheus The Musical / Concert CD
2005 - Fireside Carols - Sing Along Holiday CD
2006 - Nightingale Lullabies - Piano solo
2006 - Notable Impressions - Piano & Orchestrations
2006 - Soul Of Love / Katie Harman - Classical Crossover- Michael served as producer, arranger, composer.
2007 - Enchanted Christmas Vol. 3 - Piano & Orchestrations
2007 - At Midnight - Duet CD w/ saxophonist - Patrick Lamb - Contemporary jazz
2008 - Fly Me To The Moon - Piano & Orchestrations
2008 - Christmas Anthology - Double CD set /Compilation of Michael's best interpretations of the season
2008 - Expressions of Chocolate Vol. 2 - A musical tribute to Moonstruck Chocolates
2009 - Tango- Inspired by Argentine Tango -Michael introduces his fabulous Tango band
2009 - Simple Gifts- Piano and violin duo- Michael's Step son Tanner Johnson Shines on this one!
2009 - Songs Of Mary- Produced for the famous Grotto in Portland Oregon
2009 - Oregon My Oregon- Produced for the famous Portland Ornament
2009 - Moonlight Owl -Lullaby CD
2010 - Christmas Reunion- w/violinist Aaron Meyer
2011 - Double DVD Set Disc 1 (Piano Solo Journey),
Disc 2 (Reflections Of Christmas)
2011 - Live At Jimmy Mak's, Michael Allen Harrison Superband at it's finest!!
2012 - Crossing Over, a musical Haggadah, Book & Lyrics by Alan Berg
2012 - The Snowman And The Red Thread- Children's Story and Ballet w/ Polaris Dance Theater
2013 - Crossing Over - A Musical Haggadah
2013 - Christmas Dreams,Piano Solo
2013 - The Portland Rose - Solo Piano
2014 - Ode To Joy, Piano solo
2015 - Calling On Angels
2015 - Christmas At The Old Church - 25th Anniversary
2017 - My Romance w/ Julianne Johnson
2017 - Behind The Gates - Compilation CD
2019 - It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Christmas CD
2020 - Traveling Light - Music & Poetry
2020 - Christmas Meditations - Piano & Orchestrations
2020 - Live At the Grotto - Piano Solo
2020 - Pieces Of A Dream - Piano & Orchestrations
2020 - Star Dust - Piano & Orchestrations
2020 - Piano Man - Piano & Orchestrations
2020 - Christmas At The Old Church 30th Anniversary CD
2020 - Christmas At The Old Church 30th Anniversary DVD
2020 - Rise - Solo Piano
2020 - By Request - Solo Piano
2020 - New Intentions For The World - Piano & Orchestrations
2020 - Michael Allen Harrison Solo Piano
2020 - Floating Souls - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Enchanted Christmas Vol. 4 - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - In The Garden - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Spirit Of the Dawn - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Magic Gardens - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - New Vision - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Ten Grands 20th Anniversary CD
2021 - Interlude - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - MAH Goes To The Movies - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Disney Dreams - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Devotion - Piano & Orchestrations
2021 - Blue Serenity - Piano & Orchestrations
2022 - Piano A New Way - Solo Piano
2023 - Pyramid Forest - Piano & Orchestrations
2024 - Best Of Christmas - Michael & Julianne
2025 - Christmas Piano - Double CD Set Solo Piano