Michael L. Ehrlich, Artistic Director of the Fairfax Choral Society, conducts the FCS Vocal Arts Ensemble and Vocal Arts Singers. Mr. Ehrlich is the former Director of the W.T. Woodson High School Chorus, where he built the chorus up from 35 members to 280 members. He has thirty-six years’ experience as a Choral Director, directing six ensembles ranging from intermediate through advanced levels, including Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Choirs. His leadership roles have included: President of the Fairfax County Choral Directors Association, District Representative, Vice President, and President of the Virginia Choral Directors Association (VCDA) and the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA); twenty-six years working with the VCDA and VMEA boards; and nine years as Associate Conference Coordinator of VMEA Professional Development Conference. He has spent twenty-five years as a guest clinician for District and All County choral events and as an adjudicator for various festivals and assessments.
Michael has a Master’s in Music Education and Choral Conducting from Florida State University, is an educator certified by George Mason University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University. He has led ten European Concert Tours, nine of which involved students from both Woodson High School and the east coast of the United States. The tenth tour was his first with members of the Fairfax Choral Society.
Michael has studied with Dr. Andre Thomas, Dr. Kevin Fenton, Dr. Judy Bowers, Dr. Robert Fountain, Dr. Jerry Blackstone, and Dr. Eugene Rogers, among others.
He was a saxophonist with the Air Force Band of the East, and a choral director for both Holmes and Frost Middle Schools. Michael was honored to teach Choral Methods and Choir Lab for a semester at George Mason University.
Michael continues to take the Vocal Arts Ensemble and Vocal Arts Singers on a musical journey that includes a variety of genres including traditional choral literature, American folksongs and spirituals, music of different cultures, vocal jazz, and Broadway.