Dr. Michael Joseph Barrett is an internationally acclaimed conductor, composer, educator, and choral clinician. He led the University of Pretoria (TUKS) Camerata from 2013–2025 and has served as a faculty member and now Research Associate in the university’s Department of Music. He earned his DMus in Choral Performance in 2017. His choirs have won numerous awards, including the Grand Prix of Nations (2014, 2017), and have performed at top events such as the ACDA National Conference (2025) and the World Symposium of Choral Music (2017). He is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician, with recent appearances including the Texas (2024) and Missouri (2022) All-State Choirs. He has held residencies at several U.S. universities and regularly works with choirs across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. His Carnegie Hall debut is set for April 2026. A published composer with over 40 works, he holds an NRF Y2 rating for his contributions to South African choral research. He is also Executive Director and Co-Producer of Capital Singers, South Africa’s largest community choir. In April 2025, Michael and his family relocated to Melbourne, Australia, where he continues to compose music, develop his international career, and lead workshops both locally and abroad.