Michael Battalio || Music

Experience

Michael has been a musician for over 15 years. He has taken piano under Dr. Clarissa Behr Davis (1995-2004) and Dr. Jackie Edwards-Henry (2005-present). He has taken cello under Simona Barbu (2007-2011). He has played saxophone since 1997 and cello since 2002. He has played the piano, organ, cello, and saxophone for the St. Michael's Catholic Church 8:30 Mass choir in addition to regularly conducting the choir since 2002. Upon moving to Starkville, MS in 2004, he joined on piano and cello with the St. Joseph Catholic Church 5:30 Mass Choir and is currently the full time pianist. He serves as substitute pianist for the St. Joseph 11:30 Mass choir. Since spring of 2011 he has served as choir director and chief organist for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in West Point, MS. From 2004-2007 he marched saxophone with the Famous Maroon Band, the 350 member marching band of Mississippi State University. He has had the honor to serve as head drum major for the Famous Maroon Band from fall 2007 to spring 2010. Since fall of 2011, he has served the FMB as a graduate assistant. In springs he plays saxophone for the MSU Concert Band. He frequently serves as a narrator for the FMB. He has been a cellist for the MSU Orchestra since 2010. He is also a regular musician for the MSU improv group, LabRats. Since starting his music career, he has performed for over 700 services and special functions. Michael has a minor in Music from Mississippi State.

Performances

Michael is available to perform for weddings, receptions, dinners (formal and informal), recitals, religious services or any other event as needed. He can perform solo (mix and match instruments), accompany or join an ensemble on the keyboard (piano and organ), alto saxophone or cello. He is also available to coordinate and direct emsembles or lend his vocal talents

Michael has a broad repertoire, including most wedding tunes: Cannon in D, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Ode to Joy, Wedding March, Claire de Lune, et cetera. He is familiar with over 500 Catholic and Protestant hymns, many traditional standards and a wide variety of classical pieces. Additionally, he is proficient in many styles of improvisation.

He can be booked for weddings for $200 on cello, $150 on saxophone or $300 on keyboard. Included in the fee is any number of the standard wedding songs or hymns and light background music before and after the ceremony. However, the fee is subject to several factors: number of requested special songs to learn (i.e. additional practice time), how long the event lasts, and, if necessary, travel and lodging. Fees for other events are negotiable but still subject to the above factors. To book, e-mail Michael at michael[at]battalio[dot]com with the subject line "book a performance".

Some Pieces in his Repertoire
Fugative Vision Op.22, No 1 - Prokofiev
Moonlight Sontata Op. 27 No. 2 - Beethoven
Canon in D - Pachelbel
Invention in C major BWV 772 - Bach
Aria in G Major, HWV 441 - Handel
Sonata in D Major Hob. 16/37 Mvmt.1 'Allegro con Brio' - Haydn
Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasque - Debussy
The Entertainer - Joplin
Rhapsody in G Minor Op. 79 no. 2 - Brahms
Prelude Allegro ben ritmato e deciso - Gershwin
Prelude and Fugue #1 from Well-Tempered Clavier-Bach

Music Resume

Selected Recordings

Aria in G HWV 441 George Frideric Handel
Low Quality Video	High Quality Audio
Invention in C Major BWV 722 Johann Sebastian Bach
Low Quality Video	High Quality Audio
Prelude and Fugue #1 from Well-Tempered Clavier Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude	Fugue
Moonlight Sontata Op. 27 No. 2 Ludwig van Beethoven
Movement One	Movement Two
Canon in D Johann Pachelbel	Clair de Lune from Suite bergamasque Claude Debussy

A Battalio Christmas Back in 2007, I recorded some of my favorite piano arrangements of Christmas tunes. I decided it would make a great present to offer them as a compilation. The result was: A Battalio Christmas. The first release was just by CD, but now I've decided to put it online. You're welcome to listen.

Composing and Arranging

Violin arrangments

Recently, I've arranged about 50 or so violin parts for various church pieces - mainly psalms. Below is one of them: "Holy is Your Name". Also below is a short list of others that I have arranges. If you send me an e-mail at michael[at]battalio[dot]com, I'll happily send along my entire list.

Awake O Sleeper	God Mounts His Throne	Lord Send Out Your Spirit
Be Merciful O Lord	Holy is Your Name	My Soul Is Still
Bless the Lord My Soul	I Am the Living Bread	Rise Up Jerusalem

Battalio Gloria

Several years ago I was commissioned to write a Mass setting. The result, after much toil, was this: the Battalio Mass. Shortly I will be updating it for the revised translation.

approx 2:45 min. (2376 KB)

Below is a copy of the lead sheet for the opening refrain of the Battalio Gloria. Again, if you send me an e-mail at michael[at]battalio[dot]com, I'll happily send you the piano, guitar, and violin parts.