Michael Joseph Barrett is the conductor of the University of Pretoria (Tuks) Camerata and a
Senior Lecturer in Choral Conducting in the Department of Music. He was a member of the
Drakensberg Boys’ Choir from 1992 to 1997. He obtained the degrees BMus in Performing Arts
(cum laude) in 2005 and MMus (Performing Arts) in 2008 specialising in choral conducting, both
from the University of Pretoria. From UNISA, he holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher
Education (PGCE) and a Performance Licentiate in Singing, both received in 2008. In 2017, Michael
completed his Doctorate of Music Degree (Performing Arts) in Choral Performance through the
University of Pretoria.
Michael’s choirs have won numerous national and international awards, as well as choral
competitions all over the world, including Grand Prix of Nations (Latvia 2017), The 8th World
Choir Games (Latvia 2014); St Petersburg Choral Competition (Russia 2013); Llangollen
International Musical Eisteddfod (Wales 2012); Krakow International Advent Choral Competition
(Poland 2012); Europe and its Songs (Spain 2010); and the International Youth Music Festival
(Slovakia 2010). In 2017, the Tuks Camerata was invited to perform at the World Choral
Symposium in Barcelona, Spain. The choir has released four CD’s, all that were nominated for a
South African Music Award for best classical album.
Michael is an active composer and arranger. His music is internationally published by Santa
Barbara Music Publishers and Walton Music and his arrangements of traditional South African
Music are especially popular. He is regularly invited to give workshops on South African Choral
Music (both traditional and western) and to adjudicate choral competitions both nationally and
internationally. Michael is also the Executive Director and Co-Producer of “Capital Singers”, South
Africa’s largest community choir project.
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