Michael R. Hicks
Since 1999 approximately a third of a million youth at the Especially for Youth (EFY) program, as well as tens of thousands in church congregations around the world have sung Michael R. Hick’s well–known composition of the “EFY Medley: As Sisters in Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth.” The song has been sung on such occasions as seminary graduations, missionary farewells, temple dedication celebrations, as well as, youth conferences throughout the world in Lithuania, Australia, Japan, China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and throughout South America to name but a few places. His music has uplifted audiences worldwide, has won awards, and his arrangements have been performed by many – from small church choirs to famous country music performers.
Michael is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a degree in Marketing Communication and a minor in music. He served a two-year full-time mission in the California Santa Rosa Mission. He worked as a counselor for the Especially for Youth program for five summers, and taught seminary classes for a semester at Mountain View High School in Oren, Utah. He has also spoken on many topics and has performed with various artists.
He released his first CD in 1997 entitled To Satisfy the Law which consisted of solo piano arrangements of hymns, and published the piano book for the CD the following year. In 1999, he produced a CD single and sheet music for his arrangement of “As Sisters in Zion & We’ll Bring the World His Truth.” In 2000, his arrangement of “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” was included on the 2000 EFY album Forward with Faith. His project, Creations, which is an album of original-based instrumental music celebrating the beauties of the earth, was nominated for three awards at the 2001 Pearl Awards. In 2002, in a collaborative effort between himself, Jon Schmidt, Paul Cardall, and David Tolk, he created a new-age piano collection called Piano Portraits which was nominated for two Pearl Awards. In 2009, he produced a follow up CD to Piano Portraits called Piano Portraits Lullaby, again with the collaboration of Jon Schmidt, Paul Cardall, and David Tolk.
Michael currently lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, daughter, and son.
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