Michael Mortilla has taught in universities, public and private schools, and for arts organizations nationally. He received his teaching license for the New York City Public Schools and was on the staff at the famed (pun intended) High School for the Performing Arts. From there he went on to teach for 14 years at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Michael has also taught many private students in piano, composition and accompaniment.

Michael continues to tour public and private schools in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, bringing silent films with live music to grades K-12 and community programs called Family Nights to a wide range of mainstream communities, as well as to obscure and less fortunate areas. These programs are particularly well received in multi-lingual communities where language can create a barrier for non-English speakers. The programs are sponsored and supported by The Santa Barbara County Education Office's Children's Creative Project.

Immediately after graduating from high school, Mr. Mortilla served at his alma matter for the next 6 years as the musical theater faculty advisor, music director, rehearsal pianist, arranger and orchestral conductor (Bethpage Public School District). He has also taught seminar classes at the University of Alaska in Anchorage, the American College Dance Festival - University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and elsewhere. Michael was named a Master Artist for the Arts Fund of Santa Barbara and mentored several aspiring composers, several of whom have gone on to illustrious careers in their own right.

Michael Mortilla was on the faculty for 14 years at the

University of California, Santa Barbara (above)