WELCOME!

Mr. Bodnyk is a native of Orefield, Pennsylvania, and currently lives in New York City. He holds the Bachelor of Science Degree in vocal performance from Mannes College of Music (NYC), and the Master of Church Music Degree from Concordia University Wisconsin with a concentration in choral conducting. He is a candidate for the Master of Arts Degree in vocal performance from Hunter College (CUNY).

He is active as a soloist in recital, opera and oratorio. This season he will be heard in the following: Mass (Stravinsky), Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61 (Bach), Messiah (Handel), Christmas Oratorio (Saint-Saens), Magnificat (Schubert). He will also be singing scenes from Die Fledermaus (Strauss) and Turandot (Puccini) with Hunter Opera. Recent concert performances have included Messiah (Handel), Seven Last Words of Christ (Dubois), Elijah (Mendelssohn), Mass in Time of War (Haydn), and Coronation Mass (Mozart).

Mr. Bodnyk serves as a cantor and section leader with The Cathedral of Saint Patrick Choir in NYC. At the cathedral he sings in well over 150 masses and concerts throughout the year including the nationally televised Christmas Midnight Mass and the weekly masses broadcast on Sirius XM Satelite Radio. This year Michael was honored to sing with the the Cathedral Choir during Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic visit to the United States, as well as for President Bush at The White House for The National Day of Prayer.

Mr. Bodnyk serves as the Director of Music & Organist at Saint Brigid School where he oversees a comprehensive general music curriculum. At Saint Brigid's he also serves as the Director for the choral ensembles and handbell/handchime programs. He is a former faculty member of The Cathedral of Saint Patrick Young Singers in New York City (2004-08). He currently maintains a private voice and piano studio in Manhattan and in the Lehigh Valley (PA).

A strong proponent of sacred song and liturgical music, Mr. Bodnyk is active in churches of various faiths throughout Pennsylvania and New York. He has arranged numerous themed "Sermon in Song" programs and benefit concerts for church music programs. He is the founder and artistic director of Faith Lutheran Church's concert series Music At Faith (Whitehall, PA)and directs The Lehigh Valley Lutheran Chorale & KinderChor. This season he will conduct the choral programs in performance of Schubert's "Mass in G" and "Magnificat", Handel's "Messiah", and a concert of works by 20th Century British composers including Benjamin Britten's "Te Deum in C".

He is a recipient of the 2008 Ruth Jacobs Memorial Scholarship award from The Choristers Guild, and was recognized for his promise in future work with children's and youth choral programs.

Michael has premiered the vocal works of several young American composers and has been invited to sing on the rosters of many concert programs including "A Song Lovers Catalog", "Music at Faith" and "Music in the Old Chapel". Most recently, Mr. Bodnyk has been invited to record a performance for a PBS television program.

Recordings include Organ Music & Gregorian Chant from St. Patrick's Cathedral (Ensemble performer). This fall, he will release his first solo recording, SING NOEL!, featuring new and old works for the Advent/Christmas season.

Principle teachers include Arthur Levy (Mannes), Marian Thompson (Mannes), Dr. Thomas Houser & Janice Derstine (DeSales). Keyboard studies with Marilyn Groves (Mannes).

Professional affiliations include: The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, The National Association for Music Education, The Choristers Guild, Chorus America, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers & American Choral Directors Association.