Michael Short

With a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University in Orange, California and a master’s degree in choral conducting from California State University, Fullerton, Michael Short is the founder and musical director of the Orange Community Master Chorale. In addition to secular responsibilities as vocal music director at Orange High School, Mr. Short has directed music at First United Methodist Church of Orange since 1988.
He has an extensive and active participation as an adjudicator in choral festivals and honor choir performances as well as with the American Choral Directors Association on a regional and national level.
Producing and directing, in cooperation with the City of Orange, the annual 3rd of July patriotic program (with fireworks) and the Treelighting and Candlelight Procession in the downtown plaza for the last twenty-five years are among the highlights on his resume. This December will again find him at the helm of the Second Annual Christmas in Southern California presentation at Chapman University’s Musco Center. Mr. Short has directed several concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City with both high school and adult participants and he regularly organizes concert tours for both age groups in the United States and abroad. (Another trip is planned to Scotland, Wales and England for the Orange Community Master Chorale in July of 2019.)
Mr. Short’s choral groups—school and church—have appeared in two feature films, Ed Wood and Sister Act 2 and performed musical voice-over for a movie about Stan Lee. Among his many awards and recognitions are the prestigious Bravo Award from the Los Angeles Music Center, Outstanding Teacher from the Orange Unified School District, a Teacher of the Year finalist, Outstanding Alumnus from Chapman University and he was selected Citizen of the Year by the City of Orange.
TThe latest project to be the recipient of Mr. Short’s boundless enthusiasm and leadership is the creation of a venue to feature the creative artists of the community called Greater Orange Community Arts Theater (GOCAT) which is now in planning stages. (Stay tuned.)