Michael Roest

Founder & Director

Michael Roest is an advocate for building and celebrating community through the arts. Roest is the founder and director of the International Pride Orchestra, an organization that unites LGBTQ+ musicians from around the world to present concerts, commission new works, and support LGBTQ+ causes. Roest additionally serves as associate dean for academic affairs at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he previously led the Pre-College and Continuing Education Divisions.

Prior to his work in San Francisco, Roest founded and directed the Empty Mugs Holiday Brass & Organ Spectacular, which brought together musicians, ceramic artists, and community organizations to raise funds to provide food, financial assistance, educational outreach, and basic needs for low-income and vulnerable community members. He also led the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras as executive and artistic director and served as Teacher of Brass Studies and Director of the Oberlin Brass Ensemble at the Oberlin Conservatory.

Roest holds his degrees in music from The Juilliard School of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He also trained at the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Weill Institute at Carnegie Hall, and Lucerne Festival Academy.