Michael was born in Blackwell, Okla., but raised in Decatur, GA. He joined the Atlanta Symphony in 1968 and at the age of 18 was the youngest tubist in any major symphony. He received a B. Mus. Lit. with a minor in composition from Ga. State U., where he now serves on the faculty.

At Emory, he also teaches tuba, coaches brass and conducts the Emory Community Brass Ensemble. He has contributed numerous arrangements to the brass quintet and solo electric tuba repertoire. Michael is founder of the Atlanta Brass Society and the ABS Press.

In 1979, he performed the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto and has played hundreds of performances of Tubby the Tuba with the ASO. In 1997 he performed the Greggson Tuba Concerto at Columbus State College, and in October 1998 was guest tubaist with the Chicago Symphony. In 1999 he recorded the Greggson with the Emory Wind Ensemble.

His studies have been with Arnold Jacobs and Ed Kleinhammer of the Chicago Symphony, Ward Fearn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, William Hill, and his father, former ASO tubist, E.W. Moore.

Besides Georgia State and Emory, Michael is on the faculty of Spelman College. This year, his ASO chair has been endowed by Georgia Pacific Corporation.