Harpsichordist & Conductor Michael Thomas Asmus has been hailed as “an all-star harpsichordist who was excellent throughout, providing a solid backbone for the singers and orchestra” (Palm Beach Arts Paper). He has also been lauded as a “versatile” continuo player (CNVC.org) with “judicious, rhythmically supple harpsichord playing” (Star Tribune). As a conductor, he has been praised as a “conscientious [conductor]” with “a natural talent” and “a bright future” by audiences and ensembles alike. He is consistently lauded by his colleagues as a great musical collaborator.

He has previously been the assistant conductor for Stony Brook Opera’s production of Benjamin Britten’s Rape of Lucretia (2017) and the Stony Brook Opera’s/Stony Brook Baroque Players’ production of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Pygmalion (2018). He made his international debut as a harpsichordist and continuo player in March 2017 at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Puebla, México playing a concert of Renaissance-, Baroque-, and Classical-era music with cellist Eduardo Carpinteyro and violinist Saúl Rodríguez.

In 2018, Michael attended the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Lviv, Ukraine where he led the Lviv Philharmonic in concert. In 2019, he was a guest musician with the Rose Ensemble’s tour of Voices of Angles. Also in 2019, Michael made his debut at Opera NEO (San Diego) as the Assistant Conductor and Vocal Coach for their production of Francesco Cavalli’s La Calisto. He was scheduled to return in 2020 as the Assistant Conductor and Vocal Coach for Opera NEO’s production of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Platée. In May 2022, Michael made his debut at Florida Grand Opera (Miami) as an emergency replacement continuo player for their production of Handel’s Agrippina.