About

Michael Widjaja is a conductor, musician, and educator from Sioux City, Iowa. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut, and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Conducting at Youngstown State University, where he studies conducting with Dr. Michael Scott Butler.

In 2026, Michael founded the Siouxland Chamber Orchestra. Created to bring professional-caliber chamber orchestra performances to the Iowa/Nebraska/South Dakota tri-state community, the ensemble brings together musicians from across the region and beyond.

Siouxland Chamber Orchestra

Michael is a versatile tenor, with experience singing in churches, cathedrals, and concert settings throughout the United States. He currently serves as a tenor section leader and soloist at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a tenor section leader and soloist at First Church of Christ in Wethersfield and has also sung at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury and the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut.

St. Paul Cathedral

First Church of Christ, Christmas Concert

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

During his undergraduate studies, Michael served as President of Hartt's National Association for Music Education Collegiate Chapter (NAfME) and as Collegiate Student Co-Chair for the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA). In these roles, he organized professional development opportunities for music education students, most notably bringing in esteemed clinicians Dr. John Feierabend and Dr. Peter Boonshaft.

Michael received the inaugural Glen Adsit Award at The Hartt School, established in honor of the late wind ensemble conductor and CBDNA president Glen Adsit. Accompanied by a Yamaha trumpet donated by anonymous benefactors, the award recognizes an exemplary trumpet player in need of a professional instrument.

CMEA Collegiate Professional Development with Dr. Boonshaft

2024-2025 Hartt NAfME Executive Board with Dr. Feierabend

Michael has performed at many esteemed festivals and institutions across North America. In 2025, Michael served as an orchestral fellow for the National Music Festival in historic Chestertown, Maryland, on a full scholarship, performing in chamber concerts and major symphonic works. Following the festival, he spent nine weeks at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in the Manistee National Forest in Michigan as a counselor and staff member, performing with professional faculty and serving campers from around the world. He also performed for the finalists of the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival.

In 2024, Michael attended the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA) in British Columbia, Canada, where he received coaching from Larry Knopp and Marcus Goddard of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. That same year, he was selected for the Credo National Festival at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Orchestra Hall, working with Steven Franklin of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and performing alongside principal players from top U.S. symphony orchestras.

In 2022, Michael attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute as a member of the Young Artist Wind Ensemble, performing under the batons of H. Robert Reynolds and David Martins. While at Tanglewood, he received intensive coaching from renowned trumpeters Karin Bliznik, Terry Everson, Ben Wright, and David Krauss. In 2023, Michael worked with the Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Esteban Batallan, and was part of the Pre-Professional Trumpet Ensemble at the 2023 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Minneapolis.

Symphony Center, Orchestra Hall

National Music Festival's Brass Quintet

National Music Festival's Brass Ensemble

Symphony Center, Rehearsal of Mahler 1

Frank Ticheli, Professor Emeritus of Composition, University of Southern California

PRISMA Trumpet Section, Powell River, BC

In 2022, Michael became an inaugural member of the National Youth Wind Ensemble in Washington, D.C., performing under Col. Jason K. Fettig, Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Director of Bands at Michigan State University. He was also a quarterfinalist in the high school solo division of the 2022 National Trumpet Competition in Newark, Delaware.

A proud recipient of a trumpet position in the 2021 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra, Michael was one of only six students selected nationwide, becoming the first Iowan wind player to hold this distinction. Michael's high school achievements in the Iowa All-State process include earning a trumpet position in the 75th Iowa All-State Orchestra (2021), two cornet positions in the Iowa All-State Band (2019-2020), and serving as split-lead and section trumpet in the 4A Iowa All-State Jazz Ensemble (2021-2022). Throughout these experiences, he had the opportunity to perform under the batons of renowned conductors and composers Dr. Peter Boonshaft and Dr. Andrew Boysen Jr.

Michael was also a member of the award-winning show choir The Headliners for three years, playing trumpet and participating in regional competitions, contributing to the group's recognition in the competitive circuit.

2021 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra

2019 Iowa All-State

When not surrounded by music, he loves being surrounded by the second-best thing: nature. He enjoys exploring walkable and transit-friendly cities (New York, Pittsburgh, D.C., and Minneapolis, just to name a few), running outside, cooking a mean and hearty Vietnamese pho, and spending time with his family: his siblings Rachel, Abraham, Martha, Joanna, Michal, and Abigail; his mother and father; and the plethora of family dogs.

The Family!

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