Artistic Director, Conductor of Anima and Concert Choir

Inspired by a love of people and driven by the philosophy that singing is for all, Michelle Bendett prioritizes community building and meaningful music making in each of her roles in Northfield, Minnesota. Michelle serves as Artistic Director for Northfield Youth Choirs and conducts Anima, NYC’s treble choir for grades 6-12. Additionally, Michelle is choir director at Northfield Middle School, where she leads 200+ vibrant voices in choral ensembles and provides solo and small group voice lessons.

Michelle has taught music at the elementary, middle, and high school levels since beginning her career in 2000. Michelle taught in Florida before relocating to Minnesota, and is a native of Long Island, New York. Choirs under her direction have consistently earned the highest ratings at performance assessments and have been selected to perform at state conferences on multiple occasions. High enrollment in her choirs has garnered state recognition and her students continually sing in state, regional and national honor choirs. A strong advocate for music education, Michelle is very proud to have former students and former student teachers who are now inspiring students of their own across the country.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Choral Music Education and Master of Music Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is indebted to Dr. Judy Bowers, Dr. Andre Thomas, Dr. Clifford Madsen, Dr. Kevin Fenton, Professor Roy Delp, E. Jason Armstrong, Carolyn Clark, Shelle Waller, Larry Wurtzel, Besty Cohen and countless other teachers for their mentorship, instruction, and care.

Michelle joyfully serves as an adjudicator, clinician and honor choir guest conductor. Active in professional organizations, she recently concluded her tenure as National Honor Choir Coordinator for the American Choral Directors Association, which culminated in the creation of the National Student Leadership Academy for the 2021 Virtual Conference. Michelle’s greatest role is raising an upcoming chorister of her own, her daughter, Aïda.