Michael Allen Harrison is an American

new-age music New-age is a genre of music intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation technique, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management to bring about a state of ecs ...

ian, songwriter and pianist from

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

, Oregon.

Early years

Michael started playing the piano at age six. He was prompted by his mother, who thought that playing the piano would help the young Michael to overcome his shyness. Michael attended

Parkrose High School Parkrose High School is a public high school in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is the only high school in the Parkrose School District. Academics In 2008, 72% of the school's seniors received a high school diploma. Of 231 students, 167 gradua ...

in northeast Portland. He released his first commercially available album, "Tea Court Interlude" in 1986.

Performances

Harrison performed at the United Nations in 1999, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Israel's independence. Notables for whom he has performed include

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

Al Gore Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Gore was the Democratic Part ...

, and the

14th Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...

. He premiered his children's ballet "The Velveteen Rabbit" with the Vancouver Dance Theater in 1991. He also co-wrote the music for the musical "Prometheus", which was premiered in Portland, Oregon. Michael is the owner of MAH records, on which he has recorded and produced over 50 of his own albums within the 25-year-long lifespan of his career. He recorded and performed with

Katie Harman Katie Marie Harman Ebner (born August 18, 1980) is an American classical vocalist and actress who won the Miss America 2002 and Miss Oregon 2001 pageants. She is the first and only contestant from the Pacific Northwestern United States to hold t ...

, and has recorded and performed with local notable musicians which include Tom Grant, Julianne Johnson, and Patrick Lamb.

Philanthropy

Michael is the founder and president of the Snowman Foundation. The Snowman Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating and providing services for music education. By way of funding this non-profit, Michael organized the Ten Grands concert series, which is presented annually at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon. In 2018, the Ten Grands concert was played at Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro, OR.

Discography

On MAH Records * 1986 - Tea Court Interlude * 1988 - Previews * 1988 - The Snowman / Winter ballet * 1989 - 3rd Avenue * 1990 - Moments in Passion * 1992 - Emotional Connection * 1993 - Circle of Influence * 1993 - Enchanted Christmas * 1994 - Fabric of Life * 1995 - A Tribute to Gershwin & Friends * 1995 - Little Neighborhood * 1995 - Enchanted Christmas Vol II * 1996 - Matter of Time * 1996 - Coming of Age * 1997 - Passion & Grace * 1997 - The Golden Child * 1998 - Live at the Benson * 1998 - Christmas at the Old Church * 1999 - Seasons of Peace * 1999 - The Velveteen Rabbit Children's Ballet * 1999 - Nutcracker Suite * 2000 - Millennium Live * 2000 - Cheek to Cheek w/ Julianne Johnson * 2001 - Reflections of Tea * 2001 - Snowfall * 2002 - Inspired w/ Julianne Johnson * 2002 - Composer /Pianist * 2002 - Journey Home * 2003 - Rose Garden Suite * 2004 - Expressions of Chocolate * 2004 - Holiday Jazz * 2004 - Christmas Festival of Lights at The Grotto * 2005 - Bedtime Lullabies * 2005 - Fireside Carols * 2005 - Christmas on Peacock Lane w/ Julianne Johnson * 2005 - Prometheus * 2006 - Nightingale Lullabies * 2006 - Notable Impressions * 2006 - Soul of Love w/ Katie Harmon * 2007 - Enchanted Christmas Vol.3 * 2007 - At Midnight w/ Patrick Lamb * 2008 - Fly Me to the Moon * 2008 - Expressions of Chocolate Vol.2 * 2009 - Tango * 2009 - Simple Gifts w/ Tanner Johnson * 2009 - Songs of Mary * 2010 - Christmas Reunion w/ Aaron Meyer * 2011 - Live at Jimmy Mak's * 2012 - The Portland Rose * 2013 - Christmas Dreams * 2015 - Ode to Joy * 2015 - Calling on Angels * 2015 - Christmas at the Old Church 25th Anniversary CD * 2016 - Live at the Grotto

Notes

References

External links

* * *https://www.snowmanfoundation.org/
Ten Grands
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Michael Allen American male singers Songwriters from Oregon Living people Musicians from Portland, Oregon Year of birth missing (living people) Singers from Oregon Parkrose High School alumni American male pianists 21st-century American pianists 21st-century American male musicians American male songwriters