Michael Aarons
Michael Aarons | |
|---|---|
Michael Aarons in 2023 | |
| Born | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Education | Duke Ellington School of the Arts |
| Alma mater | Manhattan School of Music |
| Occupations | Guitarist; music coordinator |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Broadway music coordination; founder of M² Music |
Michael Aarons is an American guitarist, music coordinator, and composer based in New York City. He is the founder of the music-coordination firm M² Music.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Aarons was born and raised in Washington, D.C.. He attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA), graduating in 1994 from the Instrumental Music (Jazz) program.[4] While at Ellington, he studied under saxophonist and educator Davey Yarborough.[5]
In 1994, Aarons moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music, where he completed a Bachelor of Music degree.[6]
Career
Guitarist
Aarons has performed as a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist in Broadway pit orchestras and recording sessions. His Broadway performer credits include Frozen, Kinky Boots, Evita, Godspell, Baby It's You!, Green Day’s American Idiot, Memphis, 9 to 5: The Musical, Grease, High Fidelity, and Laugh Whore (with Mario Cantone).[3][2]
He is also credited with additional guitar arrangements for the Broadway production of Next to Normal.[3][7]
In addition to his Broadway work, Aarons has performed or recorded with artists including Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Ariana Grande, Lizz Wright, Plácido Domingo, James Ingram, Joshua Bell, Michael McDonald, Elton John, and Patti LaBelle.[2]
Cast recordings and album work
In addition to live performance, Aarons has contributed to original Broadway cast recordings and studio albums associated with productions including Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Jagged Little Pill, Frozen, and Diana: The Musical.[3]
Music coordination
Aarons' coordination work has spanned Broadway productions, national tours, cast recordings, and filmed stage adaptations. Several productions for which he served in the music department have received Tony Awards and Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theater Album during their respective seasons.[3]
M² Music
M² Music provides orchestral contracting, staffing, and payroll administration services for Broadway productions and touring companies. A published case study by the Knack software platform documents the company’s use of custom database systems for musician onboarding, scheduling, and payroll processing. [8]
Prior to founding M² Music, Aarons operated Hybrid Music Productions, producing licensed music and digital adaptations during the early expansion of mobile ringtone distribution.
Composer and television work
In addition to his work as a guitarist and music coordinator, Aarons has composed and produced music for television and media projects. His compositions have appeared on the children's television series Sesame Street, including musical segments such as “Cookiefall,” “It Good Enough to Eat,” “Ladyfinger,” “Mountain Climber the Musical,” and “Van Stop Jingle.”
Aarons’ music has also been featured on television networks including CNBC, Lifetime, Oxygen, ABC, OWN, and MTV. In addition to composing original music, he has produced and licensed music for television and commercial media through his production company Hybrid Music Productions.[9]
He is also credited as a composer for the television special Sesame Street: Elmo’s Alphabet Challenge.[10]
Broadway music-coordination credits (complete list per IBDB)
| Production | Credit | Year |
|---|---|---|
| All Out: Comedy About Ambition | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| Mamma Mia! | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| Real Women Have Curves: The Musical [11] | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| Pirates! The Penzance Musical | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| SMASH | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| Boop! The Musical [12] | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| All In: Comedy About Love [13] | Music coordinator | 2025 |
| Swept Away | Music coordinator | 2024 |
| Elf | Music coordinator | 2024 |
| Tammy Faye | Music coordinator | 2024 |
| Sunset Boulevard | Music coordinator | 2024 |
| The Heart of Rock and Roll | Music coordinator | 2024 |
| The Wiz | Music coordinator | 2024 |
| How to Dance in Ohio [14] | Music coordinator | 2023 |
| Harmony | Music coordinator | 2023 |
| & Juliet | Music coordinator | 2022 |
| Freestyle Love Supreme | Music coordinator | 2021 |
| Flying Over Sunset | Music coordinator | 2021 |
| Diana, The Musical | Music coordinator | 2021 |
| Jagged Little Pill | Music coordinator | 2019 |
| Moulin Rouge! The Musical | Music coordinator | 2019 |
| Be More Chill | Music coordinator | 2019 |
| Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show[15] | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Pretty Woman: The Musical [16] | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Head Over Heels | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Frozen | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Escape to Margaritaville [17] | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| SpongeBob SquarePants [18] | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| Prince of Broadway | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| Anastasia | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| War Paint | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| Dear Evan Hansen | Music coordinator | 2016 |
| The Color Purple | Music coordinator | 2015 |
| School of Rock – The Musical | Music coordinator | 2015 |
| Hamilton | Music coordinator | 2015 |
| Amazing Grace | Associate music coordinator | 2015 |
| Honeymoon in Vegas | Associate music coordinator | 2015 |
| Aladdin | Replacement music coordinator | 2011 |
Broadway performer credits
| Production | Instrument / Role | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen | Guitar; octave mandolin | 2018 |
| Kinky Boots | Guitar | 2013 |
| Evita | Guitar | 2012 |
| Godspell | Guitar | 2011 |
| Baby It's You! | Guitar | 2011 |
| Green Day’s American Idiot | Guitar | 2010 |
| Memphis | Guitar | 2010 |
| 9 to 5: The Musical | Guitar | 2009 |
| Next to Normal | Additional guitar arrangements | 2009 |
| Grease | Guitar | 2007 |
| High Fidelity | Guitar; banjo; mandolin; sitar | 2006 |
| Laugh Whore (with Mario Cantone) | Guitar | 2004 |
Discography
| Title | Primary Artist / Production | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE WIZ [2024 Broadway Cast Recording] | Deborah Cox / Nichelle Lewis / Avery Wilson | Production coordination | 2024 |
| & Juliet (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2022 |
| Reflect | Tom Kitt | Guitar; music coordinator | 2021 |
| Diana: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar; music coordinator | 2021 |
| Bill | William Shatner | Strings contractor | 2021 |
| Smiling | Alanis Morissette | Guitar; music coordinator | 2020 |
| Hamilton (Film Soundtrack) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2020 |
| Jagged Little Pill (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar; music coordinator | 2019 |
| Be More Chill (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Joe Iconis | Music coordinator | 2019 |
| Pretty Woman: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Miss You Like Hell (Original Cast Recording) | Erin McKeown | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert | NBC | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Incredibles 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Michael Giacchino | Guitar | 2018 |
| How We React and How We Recover | Jason Robert Brown | 12-string electric guitar; electric guitar | 2018 |
| Head Over Heels (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2018 |
| Frozen: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar; music coordinator; octave mandolin | 2018 |
| Escape to Margaritaville | Broadway Cast | Coordination | 2018 |
| War Paint (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| SpongeBob SquarePants: The New Musical (Original Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Acoustic guitar; electric guitar; banjo; ukulele | 2017 |
| Freaky Friday | Tom Kitt | Guitar | 2017 |
| Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| Bare Naked | Lynne Shankel | Guitar; soloist | 2017 |
| Anastasia (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2017 |
| Jason's Song (Gave It Away) [19] | Ariana Grande | Guitar | 2016 |
| The Color Purple (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2016 |
| Amazing Grace (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2016 |
| School of Rock – The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Music coordinator | 2015 |
| Hamilton: An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Music coordinator | 2015 |
| Honeymoon in Vegas: The Musical | Broadway Cast | Assistant coordinator | 2014 |
| Another Time (Andrew’s Song) | Annaleigh Ashford | Guitar | 2014 |
| Shoulders | PT Walkley | Main guitars | 2014 |
| Kinky Boots (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar | 2013 |
| Musical Gifts from Joshua Bell and Friends | Joshua Bell | Guitar | 2013 |
| Songs | Plácido Domingo | Guitar | 2012 |
| Godspell | Broadway Cast | Guitar | 2011 |
| Memphis (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar | 2010 |
| Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Acoustic guitar; electric guitar | 2009 |
| New York City Christmas: A Benefit Album for ASTEP | Various Artists | Acoustic guitar; electric guitar | 2009 |
| 9 to 5: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar | 2009 |
| The Other Side | Anya Singleton | Composer | 2008 |
| Jason Danieley and the Frontier Heroes | Jason Danieley | Guitar; banjo; mandolin | 2008 |
| High Fidelity: A Musical (Original Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Guitar; banjo; mandolin; sitar | 2007 |
| Grease (New Broadway Cast Recording) | Broadway Cast | Acoustic guitar; electric guitar | 2007 |
| Not Easy to Forget | Anya Singleton | Producer; arranger; guitar; composer | 2006 |
| Broadway’s Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 8 | Various Artists | Guitar | 2006 |
| Liza’s Back | Liza Minnelli | Guitar | 2002 |
Film and television
Aarons has worked in film and television in music department roles including music coordinator, contractor, performer, and composer. Credits are listed per IMDb.[20]
| Title | Role | Medium / Notes | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Muppet Show | Music coordinator (uncredited) | TV movie | 2026 |
| Up Here | Music contractor | TV series (8 episodes) | 2023 |
| South Park | Music contractor | TV series (6 episodes) | 2022 |
| Annie Live! | Music coordinator | TV movie | 2021 |
| Diana | Music coordinator; musician (guitar 2) | Streaming film | 2021 |
| Here Today | Music coordinator | Film | 2021 |
| Nature | Original music | TV series (1 episode) | 2021 |
| Hamilton | Music coordinator | Filmed stage production | 2020 |
| We Are Freestyle Love Supreme | Music coordinator | Documentary film | 2020 |
| Live from Lincoln Center | Music coordinator | TV series (7 episodes) | 2018–2019 |
| Incredibles 2 | Music coordinator; musician (guitar) (uncredited) | Feature film | 2018 |
| Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert | Music coordinator | TV movie | 2018 |
| Royal Pains | Musician (guitar) | TV series (1 episode) | 2016 |
| Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | Music coordinator | TV series (1 episode) | 2016 |
| Lucky Stiff | Musician (guitar) | Film | 2014 |
| Generation Astronaut | Theme music composer | TV movie | 2013 |
| 20 Under 20: Transforming Tomorrow | Original music | TV movie | 2012 |
| How Do I Look? | Theme music composer (title song) | TV series (114 episodes) | 2004–2012 |
| Curvy Girls | Composer (additional music) | TV series (1 episode) | 2011 |
| Bad Girls Club | Composer (additional music) | TV series (3 episodes) | 2010–2011 |
| Life Unexpected | Composer (additional music) | TV series (1 episode) | 2010 |
| How to Look Good Naked | Composer (additional music) | TV series (1 episode) | 2008 |
References
- ^ "M² Music – Organization page". Playbill. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b c "Michael Aarons – Playbill Vault". Playbill. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Aarons – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "Duke Ellington School of the Arts". Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "Davey Yarborough". Kennedy Center. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "MSM Alumni Summer Newsletter: Alumni Successes". Manhattan School of Music. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "Next to Normal Broadway Production Credits". Playbill.
- ^ "M² Music – Case Study". Knack. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ "Michael Aarons Bio". GIK Acoustics. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Michael Aarons Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "'Real Women Have Curves' Review". Variety. 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "'Boop! The Musical' Review". Variety. 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "'All In: Comedy About Love' Review". Variety. 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "'How to Dance in Ohio' Review". Variety. 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Ruben & Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (16 August 2018). "'Pretty Woman: The Musical' Review". Variety. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (16 November 2017). "'Escape to Margaritaville' Review". Variety. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ Gordon, David (20 June 2016). "'The SpongeBob Musical' Review". Variety. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Jason's Song (Gave It Away)". Apple Music. Apple Inc. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
Michael Aarons – Guitar
- ^ "Michael Aarons – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 19 September 2025.