Michael is a psychologist, composer, musician and author with 25 years of experience in the work of guiding others on their life journeys. Michael has shared the stage as the featured musician with world renowned poets – Robert Bly and David Whyte. Michael is a multi-instrumentalist who plays keyboards, and a wide range of contemporary and indigenous percussion and aerophones. His art, music and poetry have been shown or heard throughout the US as well as receiving air time in Australia, Europe and Russia. He has played with such national and international musicians as Grammy winner Mary Youngblood, Bill Miller and Grammy nominee’s David Darling and Carlos Nakai, not to mention, Coyote Oldman, Peter Phippen, Jeff Ball, and Ash Dargan. His first CD The River was released in fall of 2003 which was voted a staff favorite on Growth House Radio in San Francisco.
His first full length play “Café Mezzo†opened to rave reviews in 2007 and was chosen as the best play of the year for the Loblolly Theatre. His second play "Siyotanka: The Legend of the Flute" received its world premiere in 2008 and also opened to exceptional reviews. Siyotanka garnered 7 Crystal Awards including Michael receiving a Crystal Award for best original score and performance. The instrumental soundtrack to "Siyotanka" is being officially released in December 2008.
A diplomat in expressive therapy he integrates nature and creativity (poetry, play, music, movement and art) in his therapeutic work. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of West Florida, the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology and the Institute for Integrative Health. He is the author of "Ever Flowing On: On being and becoming oneself," "Horns and Halos: Towards the blessing of darkness" and the book of poetry, "Moments." He has published in numerous professional journals and his popular keynote concerts (integrating his work as an artist and healer) have been presented nationally and internationally. He is the founder and director of ONTOS, a consulting company specializing in helping individuals and groups live more creative, meaningful and satisfying lives.
You can find out more about Michael and his work at www.ontos.org, www.ontosmusic.com, www.siyotanka.com and www.michaeldemaria.com.
