Michael Kurek, Composer

"Deeply Felt, Romantic Music --

By the end, I saw more than a few people wiping away a tear, because they were so moved."

That's how one audience member recently described the scene at a performance of Michael Kurek's music. Here is a classical composer who has self-assuredly emerged from his 20th-century roots to forge a vibrantly emotional, personal musical voice for the 21st century. While fresh and original in style, this is richly melodic music, grounded in narrative formal design and essentially traditional tonality – strikingly traditional by the old avant-garde, 20th-century standards, some say.

Welcome to michaelkurek.com! Be sure to scroll down this page to learn how to download the music from the ballet "Ploughing the Dark," which was called "a dazzler" by The Nashville Scene and a "hauntingly romantic, critically aclaimed, passionate piece" by The Tennessean.

Latest news: Michael Kurek's full-evening ballet treatment of Shakespeare's Macbeth is now available to choreographers for review! Please contact the composer for details (see "Contact" page on this site).

An Encore performance of Michael's Pas de deux (choreographed by Portland, Oregon choreographer Sarah Slipper, under the title "Ploughing the Dark," see below) is being given by the Nashville Ballet on February 15-17, 2013, performed at TPAC's Polk Theater by the distinguished Trio Casals based in Philadelphia and New Orleans, whose members have soloed with major orchestras worldwide and garnered a Grammy nomination.

Michael Kurek's Matisse Impressions for a sextet of winds and piano receives a revival performance by the Blair Woodwind Quintet with pianist Melvin Chen at the Blair School of Music on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, 8 p.m. Free concert, Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music, with free parking in the garage directly across the street.

Michael is also at work on film music and a new CD called "Chant for Strings," details coming soon. Michael's string trio "Savannah Shadows" was performed by the Atlantic Trio Feb. 23, 2012 at California State University, Fullerton and at Truro on Cape Cod, MA June 20, 2012.

Ballet fans, Download the music! Please click on Kurek CD's in the left-hand column of this page to find the full 40-minute Trio from which the ballet "Ploughing the Dark" was excerpted.

Most photos on this site are provided compliments of master photographer Denise Truscello of Las Vegas, Nevada, currently principal photographer of Celine Dione. Denise has also recently photographed Elton John, Queen, Al Pacino, and many others. Thanks, Denise! These images are available in high resolution for use in print media (contact Michael Kurek via the Contact Page -- see column at left).