FEBRUARY 1, 2009

This summer, Michael will join the music staff of Des Moines Metro Opera’s 38th Festival Season.  He will serve as associate conductor for Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Verdi’s Macbeth, rehearsal pianist for Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, and apprentice musical coach in the James Collier Apprentice Artist Program.  

AUGUST 24, 2009

Michael has been engaged as Music Director for Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2010 Opera Iowa Tour.  From early-January through mid-April, he will perform Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel, and Patterson’s A Dream Fulfilled: The Saga of George Washington Carver for audiences throughout Iowa along with DMMO Apprentice Artists.  In addition, Michael has also been offered the position of Apprentice Coach for DMMO’s mainstage summer season. 

AUGUST 8, 2009

A new video from the Boston Opera Collaborative’s Carmen is posted. Click here to watch.

JULY 29, 2009

The Boston Opera Collaborative’s production of Bizet’s Carmen under the direction of Michael Sakir received rave reviews from the Boston Musical Intelligencer.  Critic Larry Phillips “knew we were in capable musical hands when the overture began under the direction of Michael Sakir” and Mark Kroll praised Michael for his “calm control and nice sense of pacing.”  Click here for complete reviews of performances on July 18 and July 25.

JUNE 21, 2009

Michael has been invited to conduct Steve Reich’s complete set of Hebrew psalm settings Tehillim at The Boston Conservatory New Music Festival.  The performance will occur Saturday, November 14 at 8:00pm in Seully Hall at The Boston Conservatory.

APRIL 28, 2009

Michael has been nominated and initiated into the nationally recognized music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda.

JANUARY 23, 2009

Michael has been selected as a finalist for the 2009-2010 New World Symphony conducting fellowship.

JANUARY 8, 2009

After the huge success of Mozart’s The Magic Flute last summer, Michael will return to the Boston Opera Collaborative to conduct Bizet’s Carmen in Summer 2009.

DECEMBER 12, 2008

Michael has been accepted to participate in the 2009 Blue Danube International Opera Conducting Competition.  It will take place June 1-12, 2009 in Burgas, Bulgaria with the Bulgarian State Opera Burgas. Visit the competition website for more information.

APRIL 19, 2008

After a highly successful season as Associate Conductor of the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Michael has recently been appointed Music Director of the group.  Check out the Juventas Podcast to hear an interview between Michael and composer Paul Dooley. 

MARCH 11, 2008

This summer, Michael will conduct Mozart’s The Magic Flute with the Boston Opera Collaborative.  Performances will occur July 18-20 and 25-27.

FEBRUARY 15, 2008

Michael has been selected as a semi-finalist for the Young Musicians Foundation 2008 National Conductor Search. 

JANUARY 31, 2008

Michael has been engaged to conduct the Boston College High School’s upcoming production of West Side Story. Eight performances will occur in May at the school’s new Gregory E. Bulger Performing Arts Center. See the performance schedule for more information.