musicatschreiner
Faculty Spotlight
Music Man
Photos above: Michael Kahl at work with the choir and at play with his dog, Matty.
by Caitlin Probandt
Michael Kahl was born with a gift.
“My parents said I would sneak into the kitchen when I was little and pull pots and pans out of the bottom cabinet and bang on them,” he said. “My parents recognized I beat on the pots and pans in a certain rhythm. I guess I’ve always been musical, and I can’t see myself doing anything else.” Kahl, assistant professor of music and SU choir director, is the son of a retired minister and teacher. He was born in Dallas while his father attended seminary at Southern Methodist University. Kahl was raised in El Paso and earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at El Paso in music education and he didn’t stop there. “I went full circle and earned my master’s degree in vocal performance from SMU,” he said. “I am so grateful to my parents for pushing for me to get an education degree. I then attended Hartt Conservatory and received my artist diploma.” After finishing schooling, Kahl took to auditioning for roles in plays around the country. “I can sing, but I can’t dance,” he said with a laugh. “I played Tony in ‘West Side Story’ and a few other roles, but soon I started performing opera which requires little-to-no dancing.” From 1994 to about 1998, Kahl said he traveled from New England to Portland and Seattle to audition and work. “I got to see the country,” he said. “Toward the end of my travels I could fit everything I owned
into the back of my truck. I’d just find a mattress from the Salvation Army and buy inexpensive furniture I could sell off when I left. Then I started transitioning from only performing to teaching.” Kahl found himself at Mesa Community College in Phoenix and loved sharing his gift with students. “They say those who can’t do, teach, but it wasn’t a default for me,” he said. “I didn’t think I’d like teaching when I was younger, but I loved it.” From 1995-98, when Kahl wasn’t performing, he lived and taught in Phoenix before taking jobs in San Antonio at Travis Park United Methodist Church and Palo Alto Community College, where he taught before joining Schreiner University in 2003. “I’d never heard of Schreiner before I was offered a job here,” he said. “A former voice student of mine apparently told the faculty about me and they contacted me. I’m glad she did because I love it here.” When Kahl isn’t teaching voice lessons, directing choirs, conducting, writing music or working at First Presbyterian Church, he likes to spend his time running with his dog, Matty, and traveling to San Antonio and Austin to explore. But for the man who has traveled all over the country to pursue his dreams as an opera singer, there is no place he’d rather be than Schreiner University. “I really love seeing students’ faces when they get that look of accomplishment,” he said. “That ‘ah-ha!’ moment—I live for that.”
www.schreiner.edu Fall 2012 17