Michelle Diehl (b. 1962, Minneapolis) has a rich background as a performer and a composer. Equally at home in the solo, symphonic, chamber music and liturgical genre, she taps her varied instrumental skills in composing music ranging from soliloquies to tapestry. A tireless craftsperson, her works embody artisanal attraction to balance and purity. Her works appeal on a broad intellectual and emotional spectrum.

Her professional affiliations include membership in the International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM), the American Music Center, and the American Composers Forum.

A longtime resident of Minneapolis and Key West, Florida, Ms. Diehl now resides in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

"It's human nature to be a little skeptical of the unknown or something new. I think some people are a little leery of works by contemporary composers. When they enter the concert hall and there's a new work on the program, they think, perhaps unjustly, they won't be able to relate or understand what the composer is trying to say.

I like to take a more traditional route with my composing. I hope to write works that will cause the listener to lean forward in their seat during the performance and will be humming the piece as they leave the concert hall.

Today's audience member need not fear contemporary music for it can provide a comfortable transition from the past."

~ Michelle Diehl