Michael Heavner

Piano | Keyboardist | Orchestration Production

SELECT MUSICAL REVIEWS


Heavner’s piano playing is most impressive. “Always Patsy Cline”

The well-rehearsed band, featured clearly outstanding piano work in the authentic style by Mike Heavner. His convincing, bluesy interpretation provided the perfect accompaniment for Welch’s vocals. “Always Patsy Cline”

Although all the characters had amazing voices, a lot of credit has to be given to the band led by Michael Heavner, never missed a step. It accommodated the players wonderfully, and in my opinion, should have been brought out to center stage to receive a strongly deserved ovation. “Blues in the Night”

The Secret Garden at the Argenta Community Theater magical … Michael Heavner’s orchestrations serve the show well.

Special mention is in order for the musicians behind the scenes, musical director Charles Creath, a Motown Records artist and producer, shares the keyboard duties with Michael Heavner, and both do excellent work. “DreamGirls”

Finally, a hearty salute to the band and musical director/conductor, Michael Heavner on keyboards, their energy and first-rate musicianship enhance the trio of performers and provide some of the shows finest moments. These guys are smoking. “Idols of the King”

BIO

Michael Heavner is a multifaceted freelance musician and educator and serves as a music education specialist and consultant at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Saline County, Benton, Arkansas. He joined the UA Little Rock Department of Theatre Arts and Dance in 2006 and served as an instructor of recording arts technology and piano for the UA Little Rock Department of Music from 2006-2010. In addition, he served full-time as musical director, instructor, dance musician, frontend website, and social media manager for the UA Little Rock Department of Theatre Arts and Dance from January 2006 to May 2021. In addition, Michael has worked in other academic positions, including Artist in Residence at the University of Central Arkansas, College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Guest Musical Director at Hendrix College in Conway, AR.

Michael holds his Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Graduate School, a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Ph.D. in Honky Tonk Piano Performance from the legendary Jimmy Doyle’s Country Club. Michael is active in recording arts technology and produces custom-recorded musical orchestrations and sound designs for theatre, radio, and artists nationally and internationally. His past tours have taken him across the United States as musical director/keyboardist in equity tours of Blues in the Night, Idols of the King, and Always Patsy Cline. He also served as a musical director/pianist for many equity and non-equity productions nationwide.

In addition to his academic and professional musical theatre credits, Michael has performed with numerous recording artists, including Grammy winner Larry Gatlin, Charley Pride, Earl Thomas Conley, Lawrence Hamilton, David Ball, Dale Hawkins, Narvel Felts, Mike Huckabee, The Platters, The Coasters, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Percy Sledge. In addition, Michael is the featured pianist on two live CDs — “Back By Popular Demand” and “Standing Room Only” — by The Diamonds, a “doo-wop” group now in the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame.

Full-Time Instructor

MUED 5192 -04 SS Digital Audio MIDI
MUED 5192 -03 SS, MIDI
MUED 4292 03 SS, Digital Audio MIDI
MUTH 4290 02 SS, Basic Theory Concepts
MUED 4192 04 SS MIDI
MUPR 3217-01 MIDI
MUPR 2217-01 MIDI -12370
MUAP 2254-01 ST MIDI 62425
MUAP 2254-01 ST 11887
MUAP 2254-02 Digital Audio
MUPR 2117-01 MIDI
MUPR 1217-01 MIDI
MUPR 1117-01 MIDI
MUPR 1226-03 Piano
MUPR 1126-03 Piano

Full-Time Instructor

• DANC 3240-01 Music for Dance
• DANC 4340 01 Musical Theatre Workshop
• THEA 2359-01 IT for Theatre and Dance
• THEA ST 4159 02 Sound Design for Theatre
• THEA 4160 02 Independent Study

• Princelple Dance Musician for Ballet and Modern Courses.
• Frontend Website and Social Media Manager
• Online Ticket Sales Manager
• Digital Photo Archivist
• Sound Designer (select productions)
• Musical Director/Orchestration Production: the performing and recording music for live playback to be sung, danced, and performed in live productions.
• Vigorous recruitment efforts on behalf of UA Little Rock
• Worked with Google and Google Maps for over two years to establish map coordinates for parking lots 4, 5, and 6 on the south side of campus and the University Theatre, Center for Performing Arts.
• Represented UA Little Rock as the principal dance musician for the annual American College Dance Association in the Southern Region of the United States, performing for dance and master classes.

SERVICES

Online Recording Collaboration

Piano | Keyboards | Guitar

Orchestrations for Theatre and Songwriters

Audio Editing - Restoration

Sound Designs For Any Project

Live Bands For Any Occasion

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Music for Martha-Beginning Graham Technique is a solo piano collection recorded for beginning Graham technique dance classes, and is available for INSTANT DOWNLOAD!  

musicformartha.com is a research website dedicated to dance and music education.