Board member—Michelle Horowitz is a classically trained pianist and a philanthropist, focusing her efforts in supporting classical music. A native of Korea, she began her piano training at the age of 7. Michelle attended San Francisco Conservatory of Music and studied at the Mozarteum International Academy in Salzburg. At age 16, she performed Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2 with Pasadena Youth Orchestra and at age 18, performed Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto with the Los Angeles Chamber Ensemble for winning the competition.
Michelle has performed at benefit concerts, including a piano for four hands with Dr. Condoleezza Rice for Classic for Kids Foundation, and she has performed as a soloist at the Pacific Symphony Annual Gala. In 2019, Michelle performed with pianist Louis Lortie, at a private concert for the LacMus Festival in Lake Como, Italy.
Michelle currently serves on the boards of the Classics for Kids Foundation, Pacific Symphony and American Friends of LacMus Festival. She is President and Chairman of the Board of American Friends of LacMus Festival in Lake Como, which she founded in 2019. Michelle’s past leadership roles include the Dean’s Leadership Council of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine And MIND Research Institute. Michelle’s philanthropic interests include fundraising efforts for the Orange County Museum of the Arts, the Segertrom Center for the Arts, and Discovery Science Center. In 2011, she helped lead the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra on a tour to Bulgaria with conductor Maxim Eshkenazy.
Michelle strongly believes that all children should be exposed to classical music at an early age. As her family’s designated cultural ambassador, she takes great joy in chaperoning young members of the family to music, ballet, and theatrical performances designed for young audiences. Michelle continues to perform as a soloist and a chamber musician in recitals, concerts and benefit events for the performing arts education.
She currently lives in Southern California with her husband, David.