Michael Payne grew up in Soddy-Daisy where he was introduced to piano lessons by his grandmother. At 5, he saw the Chattanooga Boys Choir for the first time and found a passion for singing. Like a lot of kids, he soon discovered pop music and wanted to sing like the songs he heard on the radio.
Puberty had other plans as Michael was blessed with a deep, DEEP baritone, which was better suited to singing choral or classical music than Justin Timberlake.
On a whim, he and a buddy took advantage of the opportunity to try out for Tennessee Governor's School, which gives students four weeks of intensive training and performing opportunities.
"It was there I got a glimpse of what it could be like to be a music major," he says.
Barry Courter
He enrolled in Lee University, where he got a bachelor's degree in vocal performance, then took a year off before heading to Missouri State University, where he just completed his master's in vocal performance. This summer, Michael, 25, will participate in the Manhattan Opera Studio Summer Program.
It is a training ground for young artists, but also a place to see and be seen by professionals in the industry.
"Some in the program pay to be there, some do not. But it is a live work experience and you meet so many people, so it is a chance to make a good impression. They talk, so while they might not have something for you, they might be with someone later who does," Michael says.
Coincidentally, Michael was a member of the Lee University Festival Choir that sang at President Barack Obama's second inauguration and he was a member of the Missouri State Chorale that sang at President Donald Trump's inauguration.
He says there were some in both groups who didn't want to participate. The group sang an original number called "Now We Belong," a song of coming together.
"We had about 150 people in the Lee choir and anytime you have that many people and politics are involved, some will not want to participate," he says.
"At Missouri State, we had about 50. We had been invited about a year ahead of time, so we didn't even know who the nominees would be, but that week leading up to [the Trump inauguration] was pretty heated.
Other than his trip to Manhattan, Michael says his plans are to remain in Missouri and "figure out the rest of my life."
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.