michael-heavner-largePiano |  Keyboards | Guitar | Orchestration Production

Current Employer

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock | College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences
Department of Theatre Arts and Dance 
January, 2006 – present

Position: Instructor / Dance Accompanist (Ballet and Modern) (Piano / Keys / Percussion)  / Musical Director / Website and Social Media Manger

Education

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock                                                                                                                                                                                        Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance Classical and Jazz   May 15, 1998

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Graduate School                                                                                                                                                               Currently enrolled -Master’s Program (MAIS)

Academic Awards

Recipient of the 1990-1991 Friends of the Art scholarship award. Department of Music scholarship awards.

Teaching Positions

  • January, 2006 – Current: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock | College of Arts, Letters & Sciences | Department of Theatre Arts and Dance:   Instructor / Dance Accompanist (Ballet/ Modern) / Musical Director / Website and Social Media Manager
  • January – February, 2013: Hendrix College | Department of Theatre Arts Conway, Arkansas – Guest Musical Director / Pianist(Concurrent with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock).
  • Spring,  2013: University of Central Arkansas | College of Fine Arts and Communication:  – Artist in Residence: (Concurrent with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock).
  • January – February, 2011: Hendrix College | Department of Theatre Arts Conway, Arkansas – Guest Musical Director / Pianist  (Concurrent with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock).
  • January, 2006 – August, 2010: The University of Arkansas at Little Rock | College of Arts, Letters & Sciences | Department of Music -Instructor, Recording Arts Technology, MIDI, Digital Audio and Piano. Department of Theatre Arts and Dance: Instructor / Dance Accompanist (Ballet/ Modern)

Teaching Interest

Recording Arts Technology, Piano / Keyboard – Pop, Jazz and Traditional, Theory Fundamentals, Music for Dance, Rhythmic Skills, Intro to MIDI, Dance Class Accompanist, Computer Recording

Professional and Academic Organizations

The International Guild of Musicians in Dance

International Dance Council “CID” at UNESCO, the official worldwide organization for dance

Technical Skills

Macintosh and Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Internet marketing, social media management, web design, WordPress, NetObjects Fusion,  live sound (analog and digital), sound design, Qlab show cue software, computer recording, SONAR Platinum, audio editing, music production, composing, orchestration, video editing.

Select Performance Experiences

Annual performances at the “American College Dance Association” (South Region)

Other musical credits include: performances with Grammy winner Larry Gatlin, Percy Sledge, Charlie Pride, Earl Thomas Conley, David Ball, Dale Hawkins, Narvel Felts, The Platters and The Coasters. Featured pianist on two on live CDs–“Back By Popular Demand” and “Standing Room Only”—by The Diamonds, a “doo-wop” group now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Theatre

  • January – February 2016:  Computer Orchestration production for the musical Brigadoon
  • July- August 2015: Computer Orchestration production for the musical Hairspray
  • August – October 2014: the University of  Arkansas at Little Rock, Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, Musical Director / Computer Orchestration production for the musical, Little Shop of Horrors
  • July- September 2014: Computer Orchestration production for the musical Oklahoma
  • July 2013: Musical Director for the musical, South Pacific
  • June 2013: Computer Orchestration production for the musical, Legally Blonde (selections), North Texas Central College
  • March – April 2013: Artist in Residence, University of Central Arkansas, College of Fine Arts and Communication – Musical Director / Guitarist / Pianist for the production of Spring Awakening
  • January – February 2013: Guest Musical Director / Keyboardist – Hendrix College, Conway Arkansas, for the production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • July – August 2012: Musical Director / Computer Orchestration production for the musical, The Sound of Music
  • October 2011: Musical Director / Computer Orchestration production for the musical, Once Upon a Mattress
  • July – August 2011: Computer Orchestration production for the musical, The Music Man
  • May – June 2011: Musical Director / Pianist for the musical, Always Patsy Cline
  • January – February 2011: Guest Musical Director / Pianist at Hendrix College, Conway Arkansas, for the production of Violet the Musical
  • June – August 2010: Computer Orchestration production for the musical, Annie
  • July 2010: Musical Director / Keyboardist for the reading of the new play, Daisy, under the direction of Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj (Equity Production)
  • January 2006 – August 2010: Instructor of Recording Arts Technology and Piano at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Department of Music, Staff piano accompanist for the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance
  • September – October 2009: Musical Director / Keyboardist for the musical, Always Patsy Cline (Equity Production)
  • July – August 2009: Computer Orchestrator for the musical, My Fair Lady
  • March 2009 – April 2009: Keyboardist for the Musical – Little Shop of Horrors
  • June 2008 – July 2008: Musical Director / Computer Orchestration production for the musical, Guys and Dolls: A musical fable of Broadway
  • May 2007 – July 2007: Musical Director / Keyboardist for the musical, The Full Monty (Equity Production)
  • November 2005: Christmas arrangements and Computer Orchestration production for the musical, Lost on Route 66 Christmas Show
  • August 2005: Featured pianist on the Diamonds’ two live CDs, Standing Room Only! and Back By Popular Demand
  • June 2005: Musical Director for the musical, Lost in the Fifties, Omaha, Nebraska
  • November 2004 – March 2005: Musical Arranger / Computer Orchestration production for the new musical, Lost on Route 66
  • December 2004 – January 2005: Keyboardist for the musical, Children of Eden (Equity Production)
  • September 2004 – October 2004: Pianist for the musical, My Fair Lady, two piano arrangements (Equity Production)
  • June 2004 – July 2004: Keyboardist for the musical, DreamGirls (Equity Production)
  • November 2003 – January 2004: Keyboardist for the musical, Cinderella (Equity Production)\
  • August 2003 – September 2003: Musical Director / Keyboardist for the musical, The Spitfire Grill (Equity Production)
  • June 2003 – July 2003: Keyboardist for the musical, Gypsy (Equity Production)
  • January 2003 – April 2003: Musical Arranger / Orchestration for the musical, Twist the Night Away
  • November 2002 – January 2003: Musical Director / Pianist for the musical, Annie (Equity Production)
  • July 2002 – November 2002: Musical Director for the musical, Lost in the Fifties, in Savannah, Georgia
  • April 2002 – June 2002: Keyboardist for the musical, Cabaret (Equity Production)
  • October 2001 – January 2002: Musical Director/Conductor/Pianist for The Sound of Music (Equity Production)
  • April 2001 – October 2001: Resident Musical Director/Pianist for Lost in the Fifties, in Mackinaw City, Michigan
  • October 2000 – January 2001: Keyboardist for the musical, Joseph & and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Equity Production)
  • May 2000 – October 2000: Resident Musical Director/Pianist for Lost in the Fifties, in Mackinaw City, Michigan
  • 2000 – Musical Director/Pianist for the national tour of the Tony Award-nominated musical, Blues in the Night (Equity Production)
  • June 1999 – August 1999: Musical Director / Keyboardist for the musical, Godspell (Equity Production)
  • 1998 – 99: Musical Director / Keyboardist for the 1998-99 premiere national tour of Idols of the King (Equity Production)
  • October 1997: Musical Director / Pianist for the production of Always Patsy Cline at the Robinson Auditorium (Equity Production)
  • June 1997 – September 1997: Musical Director / Pianist for the production of Always Patsy Cline in Jackson, Mississippi (Equity Production)
  • April 1997 – June 1997: Conductor / Keyboardist for the musical, BeeHive (Equity Production)
  • August 1996 – December 1996: Musical Director / Pianist for the national tour of Always Patsy Cline (Equity Production)
  • September 1995 – May 1996: Pianist for the national tour of Always Patsy Cline (Equity Production)