MICHELLE MILLIER

Michelle Millier teaches Violin, Viola, and Voice at Sayla Music Academy. A Lodi native, Michelle was an active performer with orchestras, choirs, dance, and musical theatre in school and in the community in her youth. During this time, she studied violin with Vasi Klinker, studied voice with Nicole Howton, and played violin in Central Valley Youth Symphony.

After high school, Michelle studied music at San Joaquin Delta College (Associates of Arts in Music 2013) and University of the Pacific, Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Teaching Credential in Music 2016). At SJDC studied Violin with Griena “Goody” Choi-Trask and was a member of String Ensemble, Concert Choir, and Delta Singers. While a member of Delta Singers, under the direction of Germán Aguilar, she performed in many adjudicated choral festivals, including USC Thornton School of Music’s Community College Choral Festival. After transferring to UOP she studied violin with Dr. Ann Miller and choral conducting with Dr. Edward Cetto. While at UOP, she was a member of the UOP Symphony Orchestra and University Chorus. She performed with the Symphony Orchestra at the Composer Inc's New Works concerts in Berkeley, CA in 2015 and sang with the Stockton Symphony in the symphony chorus for Verdi's Requiem (SJDC) and Orff's Carmina Burana (UOP).

Passionate about Music Education in public schools, Michelle teaches String Orchestra, Choir, and Band for Lodi Unified School District where she has taught since 2016. Her students at Morada Middle School have auditioned and performed with the San Joaquin County Honor Band, Choir, and Orchestra ensembles. She has served as the Middle School Co-Vice President for San Joaquin County Honor Orchestra (2023 to present). Currently, she regularly performs as a freelance violinist with Stockton Soul and Joshua Washington's JoDavi Orchestra and sings with Zion Pops Choir, under the direction of Paul Kimball. Previously she has played violin/viola for Valley Community Orchestra and Sayla Community Orchestra and sung with Stockton Chorale. Michelle enjoys performing in community theatre: Lodi Musical Theatre (South Pacific, Godspell, Les Miserables) and Stockton Civic Theatre (Ragtime). A highlight was directing the children’s choir for LMT’s 2017 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Post college, Michelle has studied violin with Koko Watanabe, voice with Alison Bieber, and viola with Rachel Halvorson. She currently takes voice lessons and vocal coaching from Katherine Krebs and Morgan Paige. She holds memberships with San Joaquin County Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Educators and American Choral Director's Association.